The vine Luton - February March 2014 - Online Issue 1

Vine FREEFebruary/March 2014 Issue 1

• Bramingham • Icknield • Barnfield • Stopsley

Delivered to 10,000 homes in Luton

the

Please mention the Vine when responding to adverts

Asbestos Surveys, Consultancy and Advice

Development Survey Services have been trading since March 2002 and are proud of our record, carrying out Asbestos Management, Demolition and Refurbishment Surveys and Annual Re-

evaluations for all types of construction from Single Houses to Housing Association Stock; Care Homes to Hospitals; Single offices to Office complexes: Garages to Motorway Service areas,

Workshops to Factories and Nurseries to Schools. All of our survey personnel are P402 qualified and some are qualified to P405. No job is too large (we are currently surveying the housing stock of a large Housing Association amounting to approximately 25,000 dwellings) and no job is too

small (we recently carried out a survey of a single garage in Hertfordshire and an annual re-evaluation on a small amount of asbestos to a flat in Wales. We carry out surveys and re-

evaluations anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Worried about asbestos? We can help!

To celebrate 10 years of trading we have decided that, for a limited period, we will give advice over the telephone

regarding any aspect of asbestos, to any local homeowner or business worried by the possible presence of asbestos in

their home, work place or clients premises

COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!

What’s more, if we are asked to follow up our advice with a letter, site visit, survey or report on any property then we

will reduce our normal fee by 25%* if given the code below:

Vine013

Please call 01582 517309 [email protected]

Registered in England No: 3582326 new customer *

www.thevinemagazine.com19www.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

4

Editors:Scott NightingaleShelly Nesbitt

Editorial: 01525 22237907852 [email protected]

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the content of advertising and articles published in this magazine are accurate, neither the publisher or its editorial con-tributors 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 publica-tion.No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission.

Mother’s Day & Valentine’s Day 6 A Good Read 8What’s Best For You 10Consumer Clinic 12A Travellers Tale 14Looking Up! 18Nutrition Coach 20Health, Beauty & Wellbeing 22Allergies 23 In The Garden 24Puzzles 26Recipe 27Auto-biographies 28Technology 29Out & About 30

Advertising: Shelly Nesbitt01525 22237907852 [email protected]

Copy deadline for our next issue - 15th March

Vinethe

Hello and welcome to the first issue of The Vine Luton, your new local bi-monthly magazine.

A huge thank you to everyone for the good wishes and support that we have received. We have had a lovely time getting out and about in Luton, meeting local residents and business owners and we are looking forward to meeting many more over the coming months.

The Vine has been serving the people of Dunstable and the surrounding Villages since 2007. In 2012 the Leighton Buzzard magazine was launched closely followed by the Bletchley magazine, all with great success and we hope to continue this in Luton.Our aim is to provide a link between you the reader and all that’s happening in your community. As well as delivering an interesting and enjoyable read we hope to become your useful link to local businesses and services. Each issue is packed with interesting features, articles, puzzles, and much more.We are particularly keen to develop our News, Community and “Out & About” pages, for this we‘re relying on you! If you know of any events, local groups or good causes that would benefit from some free publicity let us know, we’d love to help.

First and foremost we hope you enjoy this first issue and look forward to the next dropping through your letter box. In the meantime don’t forget to let us know about all that’s going on in your community.

Shelly & Scott

This Month...

5Please mention the Vine when responding to adverts

AMBER ROSEELECTRICAL LIMITED

Energy Efficient LED Lighting Solutions

MAYDAYvehicle rentals

Tel: 01582 54 54 54maydayvehiclerentals.com

Mother’s Day is celebrated all around the world, usually in March or in May.In the UK, it is a mixture of a Christian tradition, and the celebration of motherhood that began in the USA in the early 20th century. During the 16th century, people in service would return to their home or ‘mother’ church on the fourth Sunday in Lent – Mothering Sunday. Mother’s Day as we know it became a regular event in the 1950s, largely thanks to businesses keen to exploit its commercial potential.

Make Your Mother’s Day

February

Valentines Day as we understand it now, with the sending of cards, giving of chocolates, flowers and other gifts, originated in the UK during the 18th century when the notion of celebrating romantic love on this day began, having originally been a day of celebrating early Christian saints.

During the 19th century, sending a valentines card became so popular that their demand necessitated factories dedicated to producing cards with real lace and ribbons, replacing the hand crafted cards from before.

It is estimated that in the USA approximately 190 million valentines are sent each year and in the UK over 25 million. And that doesn’t include the ones that are now lovingly emailed!

In Japan there is a custom that women only give chocolates to men and indeed it is Valentine’s day when the chocolate companies make half their revenue. Yet it is on Christmas Eve when they celebrate romantic “date night”!

VALENTINES

Popular valentines gifts: Flowers Chocolates Champagne Cuddly toys Heart cup cakes Jewellery

Valentine’s Day

From the day you have a baby or adopt a child, your life changes forever. People tell you this when you’re pregnant, but it’s only when it happens that you really under-stand what they mean. Suddenly there’s someone who depends on you entirely. Every decision you make from now on will be based on their needs or desires.

Being a mother can be the best of jobs and the worst of jobs. For every heart-warming moment of pride and loveliness, there’s a blazing row or slammed door (but hopefully with a hug and a sorry afterwards).Mums have to take on every role in the family – carer, teacher, agony

aunt, sergeant major, personal as-sistant, taxi driver… And it doesn’t stop when the children leave home. Now approaching 40, I still rely on my mum for advice, friendship, help with childcare, emergency loans and the occasional kick up the backside to get things done.It’s only as you get older, especially if you have children of your own, that you realise how your parents felt as you grew up – why they made you do your homework, go to bed, stop fighting with your brother, eat properly, save money and above all, be careful!Mother’s Day gives us the perfect opportunity to say thank you to our mums for everything they have done and still do for us. The founder of Mother’s Day in

the US, Anna Jarvis, eventually regretted campaigning to get the day recognised because it became so commercialised. She hated the fact that people would buy a card with a printed message rather than writing a letter.It’s lovely to buy or make a card and give flowers and chocolates. You can also do something special to show you care – maybe take on a job that she hates or treat her to a day of pampering.But this year, why not go beyond the message in the card and write a few personal lines of your own to tell your mother how much you love her. Make sure she knows that she really is the best mum in the world (like mine).

6

7www.thevinemagazine.com

FOUNDED ON TRADITION. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

■ Huge Range of Furniture■ Competitive Prices■ Free Delivery■ Fully Trained Staff

■ Removal of old furniture■ Removal of new packaging■ Lounge, Dining & Bedroom furniture■ Accessories and artefacts

Tel: 01525 373520 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dillamores.co.uk

Proud to be celebrating our 90th anniversary, Dillamore’s offers service as it should be - pop in and see for yourself!

Years of Quality Customer Care

CelebratingFounded on tradition. Looking to the future.

Proud to be celebrating our 90th anniversary, Dillamore’s offers service as it should be.Call in and see for yourself!

Tel: 01525 373520 Email: [email protected] www.dillamores.co.uk

Lounge, Dining & Bedroom Furniture & Accessories

46 High St. Leighton Buzzard. LU7 1EA Monday - Saturday

9am - 5pm

From a single chair to a complete suite, Dillamore’s have a huge display of quality furniture and accessories to choose from.

Over two showroom floors, we stock fine cabinet furniture including beds, sofa-beds, upholstery, lift & rise recliners and adjustable beds.

Helping create beautiful homes for 90 years!

• Large Range Of Furniture• Competitive Prices• Free Delivery• Fully Trained Staff

• Removal Of Old Furniture• Removal Of Packaging• Lounge, Dining & Bedroom Furniture• Accessories Tel: 01582 603310

www.chezjerome.co.uk26 Church Street, Dunstable, LU5 4RU

Chez Jerome

Contem

porary French Cuisine

On The Good Food Guide 2014Dunstable’s local, family run, Gem serving

French Contemporary cuisine.

Enjoy a wide range of robust & inventive classics, freshly prepared using the very

best local & seasonal produce, enjoyed in our relaxed, rustic surroundings.

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

FINE PRIN

TS + BESPOKE FU

RNITU

RE + SCULPTU

RE

PH

OTO

GRA

PHY

+ G

LASS

+

PICT

URE

FRA

MIN

G

Have You Been There Yet ?

Art Galleries Tea Rooms

Art & Craft Classes

CERAMICS + PAINTINGS + JEWELLERY

OPEN EVERY DAY + FREE CAR PARKING

www.staniart.co.uk 58 & 61 High Street

Stony Stratford 01908 307878

A Good Read

My Autobiography By Alex Ferguson

For You For The Kids

Mary Poppins By PL Travers

Everyone knows who Alex Ferguson is – controversial, yes, but without doubt the most successful football manager of modern times. On its release, this became one of the fastest selling football books of all time, with fans queuing at midnight to get their hands on a copy. Headlines were made by Ferguson’s pronouncements on the quality of his own players and those who starred for other teams. Shortly afterwards, the book hit the headlines when readers discovered a number of factual errors in the text. Bearing all of that in mind, should you buy a copy?If you are a Manchester United fan, then the answer is that you probably have one already. If not, what will you get? The book mainly focuses on Ferguson’s last seasons in charge at Old Trafford, and his final year in particular, with some detailed rundowns of key games. In between, there are chapters devoted to memo-rable friends and adversaries – notably Roy Keane, David Beckham, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.

Ferguson tells a good story, and as you might expect, he has a huge stock of anecdotes about his time in charge. He also shows an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and offers a real insight into the scouting and signing process at a Premier League club. However, if you have read any of the articles published at the time the book was released, chances are that you have heard the best tales already, and certainly the best lines. The chapter on Keane is a prime example – the argu-ment in the changing room is undoubtedly dramatic, but comes as no real surprise. The now legendary boot-kicking incident with Beckham is equally familiar, and offers no great insight.I bought this hoping to learn something new about what makes Ferguson tick and how he achieved his phenomenal success. I finished it rather dis-appointed, feeling that I hadn’t found out a great deal – other than the general message that if Fergie is not always right, then he is 99% of the time. For the fans, a must. For the general reader, maybe not.

Have you read Mary Poppins? I know, you've seen the film, but have you read the books on which it is based? I would have sworn that I had, but very recently discovered that it wasn't the case - and what a fabulous surprise!Admittedly, most of us new to the books will read them with Julie Andrews squarely in our minds - and why not?There will also be moments which are very familiar, such as taking tea with the table in the air and strolling through the paintings with Bert. However because the first book is really a collection of short stories tied together – some of those stories will be delightfully new. The best thing about Mary Pop-pins is her capacity to surprise, from her magic medicine bottle to her collection of tales for every occasion. She may be temperamental, but it is easy to see why the children in the story adore her - and young readers will too.

8


There is lots of new and original art in The Stani Gallery including this new work from Susi Whittaker - Artist in Residence - just in time for Valentines Day ! If you are looking for something different and unique then pop down to see the gallery which has a wide range of artwork from over 50 local artists and is open every day, including Sundays.

Creativi-Tea!A real treat for a Sunday afternoon and particularly Mothers Day is this new monthly programme of 1.5 hour art classes at The Stani Studios followed by Tea & Scones at The Stani Tea Rooms. You can enjoy making cards, jewellery, poly-mer clay gifts or try creative drawing, for an all inclusive £ 25 per person. Perfect for groups of 4 - 10 people and of course, a very nice surprise for Mothers !The Stani Gallery, The Stani Studios, The Stani Art House and The Stani Tea Rooms are part of The Stani Art Company in Stony Stratford. For more information see www.staniart.co.uk

The Stani Gallery & Tea RoomsA Good Read

My Autobiography By Alex Ferguson

For You For The Kids

Mary Poppins By PL Travers

Everyone knows who Alex Ferguson is – controversial, yes, but without doubt the most successful football manager of modern times. On its release, this became one of the fastest selling football books of all time, with fans queuing at midnight to get their hands on a copy. Headlines were made by Ferguson’s pronouncements on the quality of his own players and those who starred for other teams. Shortly afterwards, the book hit the headlines when readers discovered a number of factual errors in the text. Bearing all of that in mind, should you buy a copy?If you are a Manchester United fan, then the answer is that you probably have one already. If not, what will you get? The book mainly focuses on Ferguson’s last seasons in charge at Old Trafford, and his final year in particular, with some detailed rundowns of key games. In between, there are chapters devoted to memo-rable friends and adversaries – notably Roy Keane, David Beckham, Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.

Ferguson tells a good story, and as you might expect, he has a huge stock of anecdotes about his time in charge. He also shows an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and offers a real insight into the scouting and signing process at a Premier League club. However, if you have read any of the articles published at the time the book was released, chances are that you have heard the best tales already, and certainly the best lines. The chapter on Keane is a prime example – the argu-ment in the changing room is undoubtedly dramatic, but comes as no real surprise. The now legendary boot-kicking incident with Beckham is equally familiar, and offers no great insight.I bought this hoping to learn something new about what makes Ferguson tick and how he achieved his phenomenal success. I finished it rather dis-appointed, feeling that I hadn’t found out a great deal – other than the general message that if Fergie is not always right, then he is 99% of the time. For the fans, a must. For the general reader, maybe not.

Have you read Mary Poppins? I know, you've seen the film, but have you read the books on which it is based? I would have sworn that I had, but very recently discovered that it wasn't the case - and what a fabulous surprise!Admittedly, most of us new to the books will read them with Julie Andrews squarely in our minds - and why not?There will also be moments which are very familiar, such as taking tea with the table in the air and strolling through the paintings with Bert. However because the first book is really a collection of short stories tied together – some of those stories will be delightfully new. The best thing about Mary Pop-pins is her capacity to surprise, from her magic medicine bottle to her collection of tales for every occasion. She may be temperamental, but it is easy to see why the children in the story adore her - and young readers will too.

Tel: 01582 618679M

ob: 07801 315140W

eb: w

ww

.gjsmithroofing.com

Email:

gjsmithroofing@

yahoo.co.uk

Experts in all aspects of

Roofing &

General

Maintenance

✓

Tiling

✓Slating

✓

Gutters &

Dow

n Pipes

✓Lead W

ork

✓Chim

ney Repairs

✓Fascias &

Soffits

✓

Flat Roofing

✓Rubber Roofing

✓

Built-Up Felt Roofing

We supply &

fit:

✓Velux W

indows

✓

Skylights

✓Sun Tunnels

✓

Free Estimates

✓

Repairs & N

ew w

orks undertaken

✓

“Trust A Trader” and “ED

S” approved

✓

All repair w

ork undertaken

✓

All new

work guaranteed

✓

Insurance backed guarantee available

✓

Friendly Service

Friendly staff, honest work,

highly recomm

ended...- custom

er review

PLEASE CHECK

OU

R REVIEWS O

N

TRUST A

TRAD

ER

GJ Sm

ith Roofing A6 Flyer.indd 1

23/03/2012 13:31

Approved installer of fascias and soffits.

30 year colour guarantee.Friendly staff, honest w

ork, highly recom

mended...

Custom

er review

10 www.thevinemagazine.com

What ’s Best For You By Martin LewisMartin LEWIS Tackle your bills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

@MoneySavingExpert

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

Save £100s and beat the hikesRather surprisingly, fixing energy, where you lock in a set rate, is now cheaper than a normal switch. Five of the big six energy providers have now announced hikes, and their best new prices are costlier than the cheapest fixed tariffs. So right now you can get the very cheapest deals available, and it comes with no-hike certainty.The only exception to this is a variable (ie, subject to hikes) tariff from minnow Spark Energy – though it hasn't hiked (yet?), needs paying upfront, and feed-back ain't great, so I’m ignoring it. The cheapest fix comes from E.on for a year, but slightly longer and only a touch more are deals from EDF or Npower. Crucially, these two have no exit penalties. So on the off-chance the Prime Minister de-livers the price cuts he’s promised, and the even more unlikely event that they’ll be so substantial that other tariffs elsewhere are cheaper, you'll be free to leave. However, always do the numbers for your own circumstances. To check if you can save (you may be on an older, cheaper deal), and who your winner is, you can use my Cheap Energy Club top fixes comparison at www.cheapenergyclub.com, or do a standard comparison on any Ofgem-approved com-parison site – just search for The Confidence Code at

www.ofgem.gov.uk to see the full list.If you're not online, use a comparison with a phone service, such as Energyhelpline on 0800 074 0745, or uSwitch on 0800 051 5493.

Paying energy bills by monthly direct debit’s up to 6% cheaperIf you can, do, as it’ll usually mean discounted bills of up to 6% less, so contact your provider to check. Though always do regular meter readings for ac-curacy, as your bill is estimated. If it’s too high, you have a right to ask for it to be lowered.Got electricity only? You can still save.With electricity only, you can still get a cheap fix to save - just follow the info above. For those on Economy 7, assessing is trickier. It’s only really a boon for those who use at least 40% of their energy at night. If not – don’t bother. Full help to decide at www.mse.me/eco7

Can you find your stopcock?No sniggering - winter frozen pipe bursts can create an average £7,000 of damage, often worsened as many scrabble round searching for their stopcock - the mains water off switch - for ages as their home floods.Take the time to find it now – mine is under the kitchen sink. Others find theirs in the bathroom or in-side a cupboard. If yours isn’t working, you may want to call a plumber now, before it’s a problem.

Choosing between heating and eating?If you're seriously behind, or in general financial hardship - as far too many are after the hikes - you may be eligible for special help. Call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 to check. Plus if anyone in your home was born on or before 5 January 1952, you're due up to £300 in tax-free winter fuel pay-ments. Payments should be made automatically, but if you’ve never had it before then you may need to register - see www.gov.uk.Plus anyone on specific income support, jobseek-ers' allowances or pension credit gets £25 in cold weather payments for every 7 days it's sub-0 C.

Tackle Your BillsWinter is here. Don’t wait until you’re knee-deep in the white stuff to

sort your bills. Here, prevention truly beats cure - tackling your bills now means you can take the financial bite out of winter chills…

Avoid The Red Letters

1110 www.thevinemagazine.com

Tel: 01582 690005 Mobile: 07515 361972

Flat rooF Problems?

• Flat Roof Specialists• EPDM Rubber Membranes• Single Ply & Traditional Felt• Fascia & Guttering• Loft Conversions• Free Quotes• All Work Is Insurance Backedwww.completeflatroofsolutions.co.uk

12

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Knowing when to go to court!

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

Consumer Clinic

Firstly, DO NOT RUSH TO COURT. In my experience, judges often look unfavourably at customers who are seen to take a company to court too quickly. It makes the consumer look unreasonable which never bodes well. Therefore always try as hard as you can to resolve the complaint between yourselves first. Consider the small claims court your last resort and it is essential that you have kept a record of your conversations and correspondence. When you reach the conclusion that (within 6 years of the dispute and for amounts up to £10,000) the company or tradesman is not prepared to resolve the prob-lem, you must write a letter of intention. Make it clear in the letter that you have tried hard to offer them opportunities to resolve the problem and that you would like to offer them one final opportunity. Allow them one month from receipt of the letter to respond, and make it clear that if you do not hear from them, you will lodge papers with the small claims court. Send the letter recorded delivery and ensure they have received it and signed for it.

If they still show no interest in resolving the dispute, then you have an important decision to make. Will you go through with your threat of court action or not? If you decide on the former, you must go into it with your eyes open. You can always lose as well as win, however it may not cost you as much as you may think. The fee is dependent on how much you are suing for, but this will be outlined when you proceed with the action. If you are successful, the defendant will have to pay your costs as well as the amount you are claiming for. It is also worth noting that you do not need a lawyer to take some-one to the small claims court. It’s relatively straight forward, and as long as you’ve been reasonable and sensible in your dealings with the company or tradesman, you stand a good chance of getting a favourable judgement. In many cases, mediation is offered as a way of agreeing a course of action. The result of this is not legally binding, and most often I would advise you to proceed with this where offered. It doesn’t prevent you progressing

a case to a judge if unsuccessful. However, turning it down can made you look unreasonable. If things go your way, the judge will award in your favour and will request that the defendant pays you a sum of money (either the whole of the amount you’re seeking, or a proportion of it). They will be given instructions as to how to pay it, and if they fail to do so, you can instruct county court bailiffs to recover the money. You can also escalate the case to the high court for a further fee and instruct the high court enforcement officers to chase your money. Taking a company to court can be a daunting prospect, and I would always suggest obtaining advice from your local citizens advice bureau who will give you tailor-made advice on your specific case.Good luck!

Thankfully most consumer disputes can be settled through effective and firm dialogue. If not, there are programmes such as mine that offer additional assistance for people who are finding it difficult to resolve their consumer complaint.However, some cases just cannot be resolved, no matter how hard one or both parties try. It is for these cases that the small claims court can be very helpful.

This month, I will outline how to use the small claims court system to obtain the best results.

VinetheMagazine

Delivered to 50,000 homes • Dunstable • Dunstable Villages • Leighton Buzzard • Bletchley

and now LutonWith advertising rates starting as low as £32.50 per issue

For more information contact Shelly on 01525 222379 or 07852 453043

The only billboard you need to promote your business!

Cost effective advertising... that really works


Free no obligation measuring and quotations 3All blinds made to measure 3

Blinds and awnings are made to meet your requirements and budget 3Large range of quality, affordable fabrics and colours to choose from 3

Choose in the comfort of your own home or workplace 3All blinds come with a guarantee 3

Make your house a home with blinds and awnings from Vansar...

Call 01525 220477 OR 01582 699565 TOdayFREE home consultation, measuring & quotation including FREE fitting.For Further information visit www.vansarblinds.co.uk

yOUR lOCal EXPERTS

OvER

25 yEaRS

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 Call: 01525 220477 or 01582 699565 E: [email protected]

Make your house a home with blinds and awnings from

14

A Travellers

Tale

A Brief Trip To Poland

Part I

By Paul Heley

For some time I'd had a wish to go to Poland - but for very different reasons from the usual

wishes to see a place. I'd seen pic-tures of Krakow which showed it to be an attractive city with a medieval history and many old buildings; the sort of things I enjoy. But Krakow wasn't the main reason for my want-ing to go; there were two others. One appealed to the geologist in me and the other to the fact that, as someone who'd been a boy during WW2, many of the stories and pictures of Nazi atrocities which emerged afterwards both horrified and appalled me. I refer, of course, to the Wieliczka salt mines and Auschwitz/Birkenau death camps respectively. Consequently, I found a tour which was centred on Krakow but which also had trips to the other two plac-es. But because of Auschwitz, Val didn't want to go, so I went alone. Let's take the trip as it happened :-Having arrived in Krakow following a 2 hour flight from Gatwick, our party went on a preliminary guided tour of the Old Town concentrating on the very large 200 by 200 metres Market Square with its medieval Cloth Market and the magnificent St Mary's Basilica.St Mary's is a splendid building with two spires, one noticeably higher than the other. At certain times, and from a tiny opening at the top of the higher spire, a bugler might be seen, and heard, playing a few mournful notes which stop very abruptly. This unchanging tune is played every

hour, on the hour, every day of the year and is a reminder that some-thing like 600 years ago a fireman would keep watch from this high point. He was looking out for fire - the city was made of wood in those days - but also for any other threat.On one occasion, centuries ago, Krakow was about to be attacked. The fireman saw the threat, blew his bugle in warning but was shot in the throat by an arrow thereby suddenly ending his rendition. And so this strange melody is played in memory of that event from so many years ago.Going inside the church, one is bombarded with the usual riot of colour and gilt figures which typify a Roman Catholic church. The spectacle almost hurts the eye. Above the high altar there is the Veit Stoss, an elaborately carved triptych whose side panels fold over the central piece (supposedly) to reveal yet more fabulous carvings on the back. This happens at 6pm each day - apart from the days when it doesn't ; such as when I was there!On another occasion, we were guided around the Wawel Hill area where the castle and the cathe-dral can be found along with the barbican, city gates and parts of the original city walls. The whole place is dripping with history but, although the gate and walls are fine, I'm afraid I wasn't impressed with the castle - nothing like our castles! - even though it was where kings resided when Krakow was the Polish capital (there is tremendous rivalry

between Krakow and Warsaw). Nei-ther was the cathedral so interesting as St Mary's in my opinion. I've seen better.At the more mundane level, I had to exchange my currency into Polish Zloty. This was very easy - "kan-tors" are found everywhere - and conversion was simple, ie £1 = 5Zl (approx). I was also keen to try Pol-ish food and experienced something called Kotlet which turned out to be similar to Wiener Snitzel; some-thing (unpronounceable) which was basically chicken and chips with salad; and pork goulash with dumplings (nothing like our idea of dumplings). I found Polish beer to be very acceptable and also came home with a bottle of cherry vodka (very moreish!)The trip to the Wieliczka salt mine was a mind-blowing experience. It is absolutely enormous and extends down to nine levels (1000 feet). We only ventured down to the third level (400+ feet) by walking down at least 600 steps before, finally, enough was enough. Very tiring when you're knocking on a bit.The mine has been in existence since the middle ages and is full of statues and effigies, many on a religious theme, carved out of the salt rock by some of the early min-ers. There are also models depicting working practices of bygone days and show that life underground must have been very tough indeed, eg when combating the effects of methane gas or water seepage at depth.

A Travellers Tale (Continued)

There is one cavern of staggering pro-portions which has been hewn straight from the rock. When viewed from above, people below look like ants and when one gets down to base level, one finds a number of religious/biblical fres-cos carved in the salt walls, eg a version of the famous "Last supper".This enormous chamber is illuminated by chandeliers made from pure and transparent salt crystals - halite - in place of the usual glass. With a casual glance, one can't tell the difference.Mercifully, our return to the surface was courtesy of a small miners' cage hold-ing 10 people at a time in a very cosy embrace! I don't think I could have climbed all the way back to the surface: had it been necessary to do so, I'd still be there! The mine was in production for many centuries but ceased in 1996 when the owners clearly realised there was a much greater profit to be made from tourists than from salt! But, all in all, it had been a most interesting and informative trip. To be continued.

www.thevinemagazine.com 15

A Travellers Tale (Continued)

There is one cavern of staggering pro-portions which has been hewn straight from the rock. When viewed from above, people below look like ants and when one gets down to base level, one finds a number of religious/biblical fres-cos carved in the salt walls, eg a version of the famous "Last supper".This enormous chamber is illuminated by chandeliers made from pure and transparent salt crystals - halite - in place of the usual glass. With a casual glance, one can't tell the difference.Mercifully, our return to the surface was courtesy of a small miners' cage hold-ing 10 people at a time in a very cosy embrace! I don't think I could have climbed all the way back to the surface: had it been necessary to do so, I'd still be there! The mine was in production for many centuries but ceased in 1996 when the owners clearly realised there was a much greater profit to be made from tourists than from salt! But, all in all, it had been a most interesting and informative trip. To be continued.

16

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word “insurance”? Dread? Fear? Confusion? – Well it needn’t be with A-Plan Insurance.This local company will help you find the right insur-ance for your car, home, van or motorcycle – and what’s more you don’t have to re-mortgage your house to be able to afford them.A-Plan are worlds apart from all the faceless internet insurance companies. At A-Plan in Dunstable you will get personal service as soon as you step through the door. Pop in for a chat and a cuppa with one of the friendly team and you will be surprised to see that a no obligation quotation from A-Plan really does offer value for money.

“To have such an efficient personalised service accompanied by a drop in the premium quoted is a most refreshing change from the usual standards offered these days,” said Mrs S Whiting of Newport Pagnell.

A-Plan have been trading for 50 years so they understand a need for a personal service. Calls are an-swered in three rings and you will always be able to speak to the person dealing with your policy. A-Plan also know that sometimes circumstances change and problems arise, so they are happy to offer a degree of flexibility with payments.Whether it’s home car, van or motorcycle insurance, give A-Plan a call.

*Most new client savings ranged from £20 - £300. Figure based on average saving made by new clients between February 2013 and July 2013.Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

*Save £45on your motor

insurance.

Join our growing list of delighted clients, who have already enjoyed great savings and service to match. As an independent insurance broker with over 50 years’ experience, our friendly and professional team are confident they will find you the right insurance at the best price.

PPop in and meet the team, phone us for a quote on 01582 662 555 or visit www.aplan.co.uk/dunstable

A-Plan Insurance, 10 High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LA

A-Plan Insurance A Personal service; Why bother with the internet?

For further information and a no obligation quote, pop into see David Cornwell (Branch Man-ager) and his team at 10 High Street North, Dunstable or call them on 01582 662 555

Save yourself a further £20 by quoting the Vine magazine.

Tailored Training Sessions for men and women in your own home

6 week Transformation Packages Weight Loss & Body Conditioning

Lifestyle & Nutrition Coaching Celebrity Client Base

For an Non – Obligation Consultation

Call 07983 384454

Action speaks louder than words"


*Most new client savings ranged from £20 - £300. Figure based on average saving made by new clients between February 2013 and July 2013.Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

*Save £45on your motor

insurance.

Join our growing list of delighted clients, who have already enjoyed great savings and service to match. As an independent insurance broker with over 50 years’ experience, our friendly and professional team are confident they will find you the right insurance at the best price.

PPop in and meet the team, phone us for a quote on 01582 662 555 or visit www.aplan.co.uk/dunstable

A-Plan Insurance, 10 High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LA

18

By Seb Jay

Looking Up!in February and March 2014

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky

Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk

Jupiter’s Winter Spectacular…Continues: February and March is a great time to track down Jupiter. It is easy to see in the constellation of Gemini, outshining all of the stars in the night

sky. Look high up towards the south mid-evening to see its bright white light. Jupiter is so large that 10x50 binoculars are all that is needed to reveal the planet’s disc along with its four brightest moons. With a small telescope you can see dark bands in Jupiter’s atmosphere, while bigger telescopes gain you spectacular views of the 300-year old storm system affectionately known as the Great Red Spot.

Discover a Stellar Nursery: Moonless nights this time of year give us the best opportunity to seek out the haunting Orion Nebula. In small telescopes this gigantic star factory, where new stars are being born over many millions of years, appears as a ghostly claw of grey-green light. Darker filaments twist through the nebula, which itself sur-rounds a small cluster of newborn stars. It is a fantastic sight in a telescope from the darker locations across Bedfordshire.

Catch Mars at Midnight: Mars becomes more conspicuous in the night sky during February and March. The Red Planet is found in the ESE during February about 10-15 degrees above the horizon at midnight. During March it is further across in the SE sky between 20-25 degrees above the horizon at midnight. You’ll notice it close to the blue-white star Spica in the constellation of Virgo.

Image: Orion Nebula by Dave Eagle

[email protected]

PARTIES • FUNERALS • BUSINESS LUNCHES • CANAPE RECEPTIONS ... AND MORE


NEW

BATHRO

OM

Com

plete B

athroom

Installation

Inclu

din

g:

• P

lum

bin

g•

Ele

ctrics•

Heatin

g•

Pla

sterin

g•

Tilin

g•

Flo

or C

overin

g

TUB

SFor a FREE Q

uote Call

01525 222379 or 07846 126515

20

The Nutrition Coach

Sugar Addiction

I remember a friend telling me years ago that she couldn’t walk past a sweet shop without be-coming shaky and breaking into a cold, clammy sweat. The only cure was to enter the shop and buy a bar of chocolate which she would gobble immediately.My friend Sandy was displaying symptoms typical of a sugar ad-dict – a condition that may not have been recognised twenty or thirty years ago, but which is certainly gaining more attention in today’s world of ever-increas-ing convenience and sugary foods. Sugar is essential to the proper function of the body. Glucose in particular is important to the brain, as it provides the only source of fuel to its one hundred billion nerve cells. But it is the ready availability of refined sug-ar and its use as a mood-booster to give an instant ‘lift’ that is prompting some health experts to consider sugar addiction. One

senior Dutch health official has even described sugar as “the most dangerous drug of the times” and has called for health warnings to be carried on sweets and soft drinks packaging.Research has shown that sugar can affect the same ‘feel good’ brain hormones as street drugs like cocaine, and that sugar withdrawal may create the same symptoms as withdrawal from nicotine, morphine and alcohol. Eating sugar prompts the body to release the 'happy hormone' serotonin into the blood stream. However, this pleasant sugar rush triggers an increase in in-sulin as the body strives to bring blood glucose levels back to normal, which has the knock-on effect of causing a 'sugar crash' and makes many crave yet more sugar, leading to binge eating.This cycle of ‘surge’ followed by ‘crash’ is even more pro-nounced when the sugar comes from foods rich in simple sugars,

like chocolate, sweets and fizzy drinks. They are absorbed much more quickly into the blood stream, causing a faster and more frequent cycle. Eating more complex sugars or carbo-hydrates such as whole wheat bread, cereal and pasta, or simple carbohydrates like fruit, vegetables and dairy products which also contain fibre and protein, slows down the process. According to the NHS, added-sugars shouldn't make up more than 10% of the energy we get from food and drink each day, which is about 70g for men and 50g for women. By cutting down the amount of sugar we consume each day, we can reduce the risk of becoming addicts like my friend Sandy. Always remember to check food labels, and bear in mind that food products containing more than 15% sugar are considered high in sugar and low if they have less than 5g per 100g.

21

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

www.thevinemagazine.com

Tel: 01582 862245 or 07914879178

For all your BrickworkBlock Paving, Patios, Re-pointing

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

Health Beauty Wellbeing&

Wash Your Mouth Out!

SplintersSplinters are painful and tricky to remove. I remember my mother digging around in the tender ball of my thumb with a darning needle one evening when I was ten. The splinter on that occasion had lodged itself firmly and resisted all attempts to prise it out while I resisted all at-tempts to have it prised out!Years later a friend training to be nurse taught me how to remove splinters safely and I pass on the knowledge here.First clean the area with soap and water.Inspect the splinter; use a magnifying glass if you have one. Look at the angle of entry and how deeply embedded the splinter is.If the splinter protrudes from the skin it’s can be removed with tweezers. Sterilise the tweezers first using surgical spirit (neat Vodka also works) and if you need a magnifier get someone else to hold it; then grip the splinter gently and pull it out along the same angle it entered the skin.Small, fine splinters can be trickier, especially if they are more deeply embedded. In this instance cover the affected the area with Magnesium Sulphate paste (cheap and available from all pharmacies) and then bandage it. Leave over night and in the morning the splinter will have

surfaced. If it hasn’t, reapply and bandage again. The Magnesium sulphate is anhydrous and draws moisture out of the wound and with it the splinter. Once the end of the splinter pokes out you can use tweezers to remove it completely.Remember: If you use a needle to break the skin prior to ap-plying the paste make sure the needle is sterile.Never try to squeeze a splinter out; you may drive it in further.

Opinion is a divided even among members of the dental profession about the usefulness of mouth-wash. Gum disease begins with plaque. This is a film of very sticky bacteria on the teeth which, if not removed, causes gum disease. Because it is so sticky plaque can only be removed from teeth with a brush or dental floss. Mouthwash can never replace good brushing.A study in The Journal of Clinical Dentistry this year found antiseptic mouthwash used twice a day reduced the build-up of plaque and gum disease over a six month period. Mouthwash makes teeth 'more slippy' so the sticky plaque finds it difficult to adhere, which in turn means your mouth feels fresher for longer.Bad breath (halitosis) is caused when excess bacteria emit excess

gas. Pockets of bacteria can lurk around fillings, ill-fitting crowns and impacted wisdom teeth. Halitosis requires treatment from a dentist or hygienist but a mouthwash can help. Use one with ingredients such as chlorine dioxide, which kills the volatile sulphur compounds that cause foul odour.Many mouth washes contain alco-hol, which has been linked to oral cancers in some studies. Alcohol can exacerbate bad breath be-cause of its drying properties, and because it is quite harsh it may also cause stinging. Most dentists and hygienists agree that if you use mouthwash it should be alcohol-free.Finally, most of us don't hold mouthwash in our mouths long enough for it to work. The opti-mal time is 30-60 seconds.

As part of a good dental hygiene routine mouth-washes are helpful but they will never replace the mechani-cal action of a toothbrush and floss for getting teeth and gums really clean.

22


Do you have a permanent ‘cold’ or year round ‘hay fever’?Actually, no as that isn’t possible! A cold is an infection which your immune system will deal with in a a relatively short time and hay fever, or ‘seasonal rhinitis’, to give it its proper name, is triggered by pollens, flowers and grasses, during the growing season. However, you may be suffering from ‘allergic rhinitis’, which gives those debilitating symptoms of runny eyes, sneezing, runny nose, headache and much more. There can be many causes for this condition, which makes life a misery for many people, but there are things you can do to make you feel a lot more comfortable.If your symptoms are at their worst in the morning when you wake up, it could be dust or dust mite which is the problem. Hoover the bed/mattress/pillows, surrounding areas and headboard (if fabric!) regularly – at least every time you change the bedding. Remember that the carpet near to the bed and any soft furnishings/curtains are also great areas for the mites to thrive in!Wash bedding at a temperature of 60 at least and add 6 drops of Tea Tree essential oil to the final rinse, this will help to kill the mites. Wash the covers and valance as often as possible, too.Dust surfaces – daily, if possible, using a damp cloth or duster designed to attract the dust. This will help to prevent the allergens from getting into the air.Open the windows regularly to get the air circulatingDon’t have the bedroom too hot– mites love warm, damp atmospheres.Wooden, vinyl or laminate flooring is less hospitable to the mites. Also blinds are better than curtains, so bear this in mind if you are redecorating. The rest of the carpets and soft furnishings in the house are also great places for the “dear little mites” to thrive, so adapt the above guidelines for the other rooms in your house too!! Airborne moulds and chemical air fresheners are also known to be a problem for many people, so keep the house well aired, unplug those nasty ‘smellies ‘, and you may find your runny nose is a thing of the past!!Jacquey O’Brien, Libra Health 01525 378894 / 07990 976207

Is it possible to have a permanent cold?

The UK is one of the top three countries in the world for the highest incidence of allergy! An estimated 21 million adults in the UK suffer from at least one allergy and an estimated 10 million suffer from more than one.

These are the latest startling figures given by Allergy UK, but you may be surprised to learn that the figure of people affected adversely by food, chemicals and airborne substances may be much higher, as these figures only cover those suffering from a true allergy, when many are actually suffering from a different type of allergic reaction known as ‘intolerance ‘or ‘sensitivity’. This can give a wide variety of symptoms, in-cluding fatigue, joint pain, dark circles under the eyes, night sweats, migraine, digestive symptoms such as bloating or diarrhoea, skin problems such as eczema and many more.

As these symptoms can take up to 72 hours to show themselves, it can sometimes be difficult to work out what is causing your low mood or fuzzy brain, but you could try keeping a food diary. If you find a food you suspect, try leaving it (and everything containing it) out of your diet for at least 2 weeks. If you feel better, then continue to avoid it for at least another 10 weeks to give your body time to forget the reaction it had previously, before reintroducing it slowly. You may find that several foods seem to be a problem and the quantity you eat may also be relevant, so you have to be quite vigilant with this. Supplements such as Vitamin C, Quercetin and Bromelain can act as a very effective natural anti histamine for some people who suffer with this type of reaction and be very helpful, as can tak-ing a good digestive enzyme product from your local health shop, as low natural levels of these chemicals can be a factor in digestive issues.Jacquey O’BrienLibra Health01525 378894/07990 976207

FOOD INTOLERANCE Could It Be Your Problem!

LEWIS BUILDINGCONSULTANCY SERVICES

Tel/Fax: 01525 874113Mob: 07870 326607

Drawings for extensions & Conversions

to pass Local Authority requirements

101 Leighton Rd, Toddington

Email: [email protected]

C. LEWIS MCIOB

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

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRSWashing Machines, Dishwashers,Tumble Driers, Electric Ovens &

Vacuum Cleaners

Contact Leigh Hibon OnDays: 07841 652 496 Eve: 01582 842764

• No Callout Charge• All Makes Repaired

• Honest & Reliable Advice• Full Electrical Safety Tests

• Evening & Weekend Appointments• All Work Guaranteed

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS

Washing Machines, Dishwashers,

Tumble Driers, Electric Ovens &

Vacuum Cleaners…

*No Callout Charges*

*All Makes Repaired*

*Honest & Reliable Advice*

*Full Electrical Safety Tests*

*Eve & Weekend Appointments*

*All Work Guaranteed*

Contact…

Leigh Hibon

On

Days: 07841 652 496 Eve: 01582 842764

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE REPAIRS

Washing Machines, Dishwashers,

Tumble Driers, Electric Ovens &

Vacuum Cleaners…

*No Callout Charges*

*All Makes Repaired*

*Honest & Reliable Advice*

*Full Electrical Safety Tests*

*Eve & Weekend Appointments*

*All Work Guaranteed*

Contact…

Leigh Hibon

On

Days: 07841 652 496 Eve: 01582 842764

Cullen & SonPainting & Decorating

AndAll Types Of

General Maintenance WorkNo Job Too Small

Call Sean:07932 62622401582 608547

In The Garden

By February Christmas can seem like a distant memory: toys and games which were desired for months beforehand, are now no longer new.

I’m sure I’m not alone in remembering how the excite-ment of a new toy soon faded, but for me the big box in which it was wrapped provided entertainment for a much greater length of time because it could be turned into a car, a bus, a den or a robot. Recently I was asked to apply this theory when designing a family garden: a fun outdoor space, with no obvious pieces of play equipment such as a big blue climbing frame; a bright red slide, or a plastic swing. Instead fun is designed into the garden space much more subtly, the key being to introduce elements which children can ‘accidentally’ find, and which stimulate thought and exercise their creative minds. Children love pretending, and creative play can include play sand, water and of course mud (surely you must have made mud pies or sloppy dosh when you were a child – for those who didn’t its mud and water mixed in a bucket or bowl with a stick then left to harden in the sun). Elements such as a mud kitchen, logs to jump off and a tree to climb are all much more fun (and cheaper) than modern play equipment. I love to see a garden which on first inspection looks like an adult space, but has elements for initiating play. Stepping stones through a border; a self contained water feature; bark areas un-der trees for den making; grass mounds for climbing up and rolling back down; paths to race bikes on; washing line poles to climb, and a small bridge to cross when escaping from trolls…the usual thing! Parents also often ask about child-friendly plants, and

it’s a tricky question to provide a quick answer for. There are basically two ways in which children could be adversely affected by garden plants: ingestion, or contact. The majority of ornamental plants, roots, seeds and berries range from slightly to very toxic, but statistically (research shows) that the number of deaths is tiny. The vast majority taste so disgusting that your child probably would spit most of it out, and if poison-ous then vomiting would most likely occur because it is the body’s natural defence mechanism (apple pips must surely be the most commonly eaten poisonous seeds!). Foxgloves, fungi and Delphinium seeds are the most commonly known plant poisons, but others less well known include Daffodils, which are planted in most gardens and public places without a second thought. The leaves of Rhubarb, green parts on tomatoes and po-tatoes are all harmful, but we still grow them in schools.I think garden education at a young age is the key, and given most under 3’s won’t be outside alone in the garden it shouldn’t be a problem … anyway, they’ll be too busy playing to eat the plants!

Gardens For Playing

24

www.thevinemagazine.com 25

In The Garden

By February Christmas can seem like a distant memory: toys and games which were desired for months beforehand, are now no longer new.

I’m sure I’m not alone in remembering how the excite-ment of a new toy soon faded, but for me the big box in which it was wrapped provided entertainment for a much greater length of time because it could be turned into a car, a bus, a den or a robot. Recently I was asked to apply this theory when designing a family garden: a fun outdoor space, with no obvious pieces of play equipment such as a big blue climbing frame; a bright red slide, or a plastic swing. Instead fun is designed into the garden space much more subtly, the key being to introduce elements which children can ‘accidentally’ find, and which stimulate thought and exercise their creative minds. Children love pretending, and creative play can include play sand, water and of course mud (surely you must have made mud pies or sloppy dosh when you were a child – for those who didn’t its mud and water mixed in a bucket or bowl with a stick then left to harden in the sun). Elements such as a mud kitchen, logs to jump off and a tree to climb are all much more fun (and cheaper) than modern play equipment. I love to see a garden which on first inspection looks like an adult space, but has elements for initiating play. Stepping stones through a border; a self contained water feature; bark areas un-der trees for den making; grass mounds for climbing up and rolling back down; paths to race bikes on; washing line poles to climb, and a small bridge to cross when escaping from trolls…the usual thing! Parents also often ask about child-friendly plants, and

it’s a tricky question to provide a quick answer for. There are basically two ways in which children could be adversely affected by garden plants: ingestion, or contact. The majority of ornamental plants, roots, seeds and berries range from slightly to very toxic, but statistically (research shows) that the number of deaths is tiny. The vast majority taste so disgusting that your child probably would spit most of it out, and if poison-ous then vomiting would most likely occur because it is the body’s natural defence mechanism (apple pips must surely be the most commonly eaten poisonous seeds!). Foxgloves, fungi and Delphinium seeds are the most commonly known plant poisons, but others less well known include Daffodils, which are planted in most gardens and public places without a second thought. The leaves of Rhubarb, green parts on tomatoes and po-tatoes are all harmful, but we still grow them in schools.I think garden education at a young age is the key, and given most under 3’s won’t be outside alone in the garden it shouldn’t be a problem … anyway, they’ll be too busy playing to eat the plants!

Gardens For Playing

Ta

ylored Landscapes

established since 1998

Commercial and Domestic Services

Garden MaintenanceFencingPatiosTurfingDeckingPlanting

Water FeaturesSite Clearance

Free QuotationsRing 01525 380114

[email protected]

Sparrow Hall Farm, Edlesborough, LU6 2ESwww.silverarrowarchery.co.uk [email protected] 229374

Silver Arrow provides fun events, coaching, courses, archery

equipment and competitions for all ages and abilities

Come and try this fabulous sport

Learn Archery

26

PuzzlesPuzzlesPuzzles

Across 1. Cured meat, from a pig (5) 4. Bird, American emblem (5) 7. Overwrought (8) 8. Nobleman, above a Viscount (4) 9. Confound (8)11. Preserve (4)12. Motif (6)14. Overlook (6)16. Heroic (4)18. Thrown at weddings (8)20. Honour fight (4)21. Open air (8)23. Impostor (5)24. Low-priced (5)

Down 1. Where beer is made (7) 2. One of the Queen’s dogs (5) 3. Hazel___ (3) 4. Trip (9) 5. Green pickle (7) 6. Strange, sinister (5)10. Scrummy (9)13. Build-up (7)15. Catches rodents (3,4)17. Small weight, suspended from a string. (5)19. Run away to marry (5)22. Spasm (3)

Crossword




SPOT THE ADVERTWhat advert

Is This? >>>>

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!

CANDY

WINKS

Answers on page 31



■ Removal of old furniture■ Removal of new packaging■ Lounge, Dining & Bedroom furniture■ Accessories and artefacts




CelebratingFounded on tradition. Looking to the future.




46 High St. Leighton Buzzard. LU7 1EA Monday - Saturday

9am - 5pm

From a single chair to a complete suite, Dillamore’s have a huge display of quality furniture and accessories to choose from.

Over two showroom floors, we stock fine cabinet furniture including beds, sofa-beds, upholstery, lift & rise recliners and adjustable beds.



• Removal Of Old Furniture• Removal Of Packaging• Lounge, Dining & Bedroom Furniture• Accessories

Open: Tues - Fri 8am - 5pm, Sat 8am - 1pm Telephone orders welcome - 01525 220213 1 Chapel Lane, Totternhoe, Dunstable, LU6 2BZ

F. HORTON & SON

Retail and Catering Supplies

Specialising in: Aberdeen Angus & Hereford BeefHome Made Sausages & BurgersFree delivery within a 10 mile radius on orders over £40

F. HORTON & SON ~ EST. 1861~High Class Family Run Butchers

Locally Produced Beef, Pork & Lamb

27


Across 1. Cured meat, from a pig (5) 4. Bird, American emblem (5) 7. Overwrought (8) 8. Nobleman, above a Viscount (4) 9. Confound (8)11. Preserve (4)12. Motif (6)14. Overlook (6)16. Heroic (4)18. Thrown at weddings (8)20. Honour fight (4)21. Open air (8)23. Impostor (5)24. Low-priced (5)

Down 1. Where beer is made (7) 2. One of the Queen’s dogs (5) 3. Hazel___ (3) 4. Trip (9) 5. Green pickle (7) 6. Strange, sinister (5)10. Scrummy (9)13. Build-up (7)15. Catches rodents (3,4)17. Small weight, suspended from a string. (5)19. Run away to marry (5)22. Spasm (3)

Crossword




SPOT THE ADVERTWhat advert

Is This? >>>>

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!

CANDY

WINKS


Tastes so good... ROAST SEA BASS WITH A LEMON & GARLIC CRUST

Perfect for a simple lunch or a dinner party with friends, this main course is an easy crowd pleaser, looks great on the plate and is a wonderful dish to serve with vegetables or salad alike.

Ingredients : 4 skinned fillets sea bass, washed under running water 3 unwaxed lemons 4 cloves garlic Small bunch of washed fresh parsley 25g butter 30g wholemeal bread 50ml extra virgin olive oil Salt & pepper

Equipment: Small processor or mortar and pestle Oven: Gas Mark 5, 190°c Method: Brush undersides with olive oil and season fish all over with salt and pepper. Zest one of the lemons and squeeze juice. Wedge the other lemon for garnish. Whizz garlic with lemon juice and zest. Once no more large pieces can be seen, add the parsley, bread and butter to the processor. Quite quickly you should produce a moist and very tasty breadcrumb mixture. Press this mixture firmly onto the upper side of the fillets. Roast for approximately 20 minutes, or until the crust is brown. Serve with whatever takes your fancy!

Diane Johnson

Tastes so good... PARSNIP QUICHE WITH BLUE CHEESE

This dish can be eaten hot or cold and it’s great for lunch boxes. You can use up leftover cooked veg from the Sunday roast instead of the freshly cooked parsnip. Sweet potato or

carrot can be exchanged for the parsnip.

Equipment: 23cm / 9 inch buttered/greased loose bottomed flan dish. Rolling pin

Method: Make the pastry by rubbing the butter into the flour until it resembles bread crumbs. Add sufficient water to bring the pastry together into a ball without it being sticky and leave to rest for half an hour covered in the fridge.

Cook the parsnip in boiling water until soft. Leave to cool. Fry off the shallot until soft. Set to one side to cool. Line a 9 inch greased flan dish with the rested pastry. Prick the bottom of the base gently with a fork to stop air bubbles forming. Bake blind (this will avoid the famous "soggy bottom"!) by crumpling baking parchment and placing it in the pastry case being careful not to tear the pastry. Then fill with ceramic baking beans spreading them out evenly. Cook at 450º F for 20 minutes until lightly brown and a little crisp.

Remove the paper and beans. Whilst the pastry case is cooking beat the eggs together and add the creme fraiche and milk, incorporating all together with a whisk. Puree or mash the parsnip with the spice or korma and gradually add to the egg mixture until thoroughly mixed. Once the pastry case has come out of the oven dot the base with the blue cheese, onion and ham. Pour the egg mixture into the pastry case and bake on 180ºC for 45 minutes, or until the centre doesn’t wobble. Diane Johnson

Ingredients:

Shortcrust pastry: 100g salted butter 200g plain flour 4-5 tbps cold water

Filing: 200g parsnip, peeled & sliced 1 shallot, diced 3 eggs 175ml crème fraiche 290ml milk 1/2 tsp mixed spice or korma curry powder 50g good blue cheese 50g ham or cooked bacon








Ingredients:










Ingredients:



auto Biographies

Max speed: 120 mph 0-62 mph: 10.9 secs Combined mpg: 50.4 Engine: 1968cc, 4 cylinder 16 valve, turbo diesel Max. power (bhp): 138 at 4,200rpm Max. torque (lb/ft): 240 at 1.750 rpm CO2: 146 g/km Price: £26,910 on the road

FAST FACTS

PROS & CONS Roomy √ Safe and sound √ Efficient √Questionable looks XPricey X

By Tim Barnes-Claywww.carwriteups.co.uk

People carriers just aren’t sexy.

That’s a fact! But SEAT’s Alhambra

is a perennially popular one – for a very good reason.

PEOPLE CARRIERS just aren’t sexy. That’s a fact. But SEAT’s Alhambra is a perennially popular one – for a very good reason. As an authentic Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the almighty Alhambra’s adaptability fits just as well to family necessities as it does to the needs of the mile-munching business driver. The sizable SEAT’s sporting spirit and driving enjoyment certainly go hand-in-hand with common sense and originality. And thanks to its unexpectedly lively handling and hi-tech equipment, you can look forward to every mile behind the wheel. With a combined fuel consumption figure of around 50 mpg, the Alhambra SE 2.0 TDI CR Ecomotive 140 PS won’t rob you at the pumps either. The present incarnation of the motor, launched in late 2010, is longer than its forerunner - and wider. There’s plenty of breathing space for adults to sit happily, even in the third row of fold-away seats, whilst the big sliding doors allow fantastically easy access. The load area is charitable, too. When configured as a five-seater the Alhambra has 885 litres of luggage space available, which swells to a vast maximum of 2,297 litres if only the front two seats are in use. In other words, this car could help clear out a large swathe of a white goods department! Aesthetically, the MPV has an undeniably broad,

powerful presence, but its slightly overstuffed looks won’t be to everyone’s taste. Beneath its so-so skin, the Alhambra’s TDI engine, on test here, generates 138bhp. It produces good, low down pulling power for such a large vehicle, and efficiency measures such as a Start-Stop system and brake energy recovery technology come as standard. The stock safety equipment is, like much of the Alhambra, impressive. It involves seven airbags, including a driver-side knee airbag, and electric child locks on the rear doors. Also standard is electronic braking assist, tyre pressure monitoring, and stability aids. Indeed, the award-winning SEAT Alhambra is an MPV with some truly decent features. So it's no shocker it was not only named Best MPV by Diesel Car, but voted Best MPV in WhatCar? Car of the Year 2011, 2012 and 2013! Such a good vehicle comes at a cost though. This car, bought new, isn’t that far off the £30,000 mark. That’s an awful lot of cash to splash for room and versatility. But, let’s face it, when it comes to transporting your family around, safety is priceless.

auto BIOGRAPHIES SEAT Alhambra SE 2.0

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

FAST FACTS Max speed: 120 mph

0-62 mph: 10.9 secs

Combined mpg: 50.4

Engine: 1968cc, 4 cylinder, 16 valve, turbo diesel

Max. power (bhp): 138 at 4,200 rpm

Max. torque (lb/ft): 240 at 1,750 rpm

CO2: 146 g/km

Price: £26,910 on the road

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Roomy √ Safe and sound √

Efficient √ Questionable looks X

Pricey X

SEAT Alhambra SE 2.0

PEOPLE CARRIERS just aren’t sexy. That’s a fact. But SEAT’s Alhambra is a perennially popular one – for a very good reason. As an authentic Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the almighty Alhambra’s adaptability fits just as well to family necessities as it does to the needs of the mile-munching business driver. The sizable SEAT’s sporting spirit and driving enjoyment certainly go hand-in-hand with common sense and originality. And thanks to its unexpectedly lively handling and hi-tech equipment, you can look forward to every mile behind the wheel. With a combined fuel consumption figure of around 50 mpg, the Alhambra SE 2.0 TDI CR Ecomotive 140 PS won’t rob you at the pumps either. The present incarnation of the motor, launched in late 2010, is longer than its forerunner - and wider. There’s plenty of breathing space for adults to sit happily, even in the third row of fold-away seats, whilst the big sliding doors allow fantastically easy access. The load area is charitable, too. When configured as a five-seater the Alhambra has 885 litres of luggage space available, which swells to a vast maximum of 2,297 litres if only the front two seats are in use. In other words, this car could help clear out a large swathe of a white goods department! Aesthetically, the MPV has an undeniably broad,

powerful presence, but its slightly overstuffed looks won’t be to everyone’s taste. Beneath its so-so skin, the Alhambra’s TDI engine, on test here, generates 138bhp. It produces good, low down pulling power for such a large vehicle, and efficiency measures such as a Start-Stop system and brake energy recovery technology come as standard. The stock safety equipment is, like much of the Alhambra, impressive. It involves seven airbags, including a driver-side knee airbag, and electric child locks on the rear doors. Also standard is electronic braking assist, tyre pressure monitoring, and stability aids. Indeed, the award-winning SEAT Alhambra is an MPV with some truly decent features. So it's no shocker it was not only named Best MPV by Diesel Car, but voted Best MPV in WhatCar? Car of the Year 2011, 2012 and 2013! Such a good vehicle comes at a cost though. This car, bought new, isn’t that far off the £30,000 mark. That’s an awful lot of cash to splash for room and versatility. But, let’s face it, when it comes to transporting your family around, safety is priceless.

auto BIOGRAPHIES SEAT Alhambra SE 2.0

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

FAST FACTS Max speed: 120 mph

0-62 mph: 10.9 secs

Combined mpg: 50.4

Engine: 1968cc, 4 cylinder, 16 valve, turbo diesel

Max. power (bhp): 138 at 4,200 rpm

Max. torque (lb/ft): 240 at 1,750 rpm

CO2: 146 g/km

Price: £26,910 on the road

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Roomy √ Safe and sound √

Efficient √ Questionable looks X

Pricey X

As an authentic Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), the almighty Alhambra’s

adaptability fits just as well to family necessities as it does to the needs of the mile-munching business driver.

The sizable SEAT’s sporting spirit and driving enjoyment certainly go hand-in-hand with com-mon sense and originality. And thanks to its unexpectedly lively handling and hi-tech equipment, you can look forward to every mile behind the wheel. With a combined fuel consumption figure of around 50 mpg, the Alhambra SE 2.0 TDI CR Ecomo-tive 140 PS won’t rob you at the pumps either.

The present incarnation of the motor, launched in late 2010, is longer than its forerunner - and wider. There’s plenty of breathing space for adults to sit happily, even in the third row of fold-away seats, whilst the big sliding doors allow fantastically easy access.

The load area is charitable, too. When configured as a five-seater the Alhambra has 885 litres of luggage space available, which swells to a vast maximum of 2,297 litres if only the front two seats are in use. In other words, this car could help clear out a large swathe of a white goods department!

Aesthetically, the MPV has an undeniably broad, powerful presence, but its slightly over-stuffed looks won’t be to eve-ryone’s taste. Beneath its so-so skin, the Alhambra’s TDI engine, on test here, generates 138bhp. It produces good, low down pulling power for such a large vehicle, and efficiency measures such as a Start-Stop system and brake energy recovery technol-ogy come as standard.

The stock safety equipment is, like much of the Alhambra, impressive. It involves seven airbags, including a driver-side knee airbag, and electric child locks on the rear doors. Also standard is electronic braking assist, tyre pressure monitoring, and stability aids.

Indeed, the award-winning SEAT Alhambra is an MPV with some truly decent features. So it's no shocker it was not only named Best MPV by Diesel Car, but voted Best MPV in WhatCar? Car of the Year 2011, 2012 and 2013!

Such a good vehicle comes at a cost though. This car, bought new, isn’t that far off the £30,000 mark. That’s an awful lot of cash to splash for room and versatility. But, let’s face it, when it comes to transporting your family around, safety is priceless.


ParkingSensors

TEC

HN

OLO

GY

By Alex Albrighton

For over three decades I have happily manoeuvred an assortment of vehicles through a variety of traffic situations, and have safely reversed into a multitude of parking spaces - but I still bless the day I took possession of my latest car! For the first time ever I am experiencing the benefits of having parking sensors fitted – and as happens with many things, now I’ve got them, I wonder how I ever managed without them!

Just this week, the warning bleep I receive whilst reversing towards another object prevented a potential collision. The driver of the other car and I were parked across from each other and we both started to re-verse out of our parking spaces at the same time – which meant that even though I had checked all was clear before starting the ma-noeuvre, we ended up on a direct collision course! The insistent and increasingly frantic bleep of my reversing sensors alerted me to the danger and I was able to pull forward out of harm’s way.

It’s not all about avoiding collisions though. Having parking sensors means that I am able to fit my car into smaller spaces because the job of judging distance and space has been taken from me, to a degree. I now find I have much more confidence about parking and am able to do it with greater ease.

There are two types of parking sensors

1 Ultrasonic sensors bounce sound waves off obstacles, using the ‘echo’ time to indicate how far away they are. A speaker in the car bleeps – with increasing urgency – as the obstacles get closer. They work even when the car is stationary, but may miss smaller or narrow objects and inclines. Fitting usually requires drilling the bumper and they may not be suitable for use with a tow bar.

2 Electromagnetic sensors create an invisible electromagnetic field around the car’s bumper and any objects entering it trigger a warning sound. Mounted inside the bumper so that there is no need for drilling, they are suitable for use with tow bars, cycle racks etc. but only detect objects once the once the car is in motion. Parking sensors can be fitted to the rear or front of a vehicle – or both. Reverse sensors activate once reverse gear is selected and switch off automatically when the gear is changed. Front sensors are activated manu-ally and usually deactivate once a pre-deter-mined speed is reached by the vehicle. In my opinion, parking sensors are an ab-solute MUST - but if your car doesn’t have them, don’t despair! They can be fitted post manufacture, with prices starting at around £30 for the ultrasonic version, and £70 for the electromagnetic sensors.

3130

SPOT THE ADVERT

Step On ItCANDYHANDYHANDSWANDSWINDSWINKS

Answers Out About&• Clubs • Groups • Events• Community

OSTEOPOROSIS SUPPORT GROUP

Meeting 3rd Wednesday of the month

2pm - 3.30pmThe Meeting Room

(Access door near bus stop)ASDA Superstore Dunstable

Court Drive, Dunstable LU5 4JD · Diagnosed with Osteoporosis/ Osteopenia· Find out ways to prevent further damage· Learn about foods that help build strong bones· February 26th a chance to meet others with the condition· March 26th Pilates Physiotherapist Guest Speaker(If conditions are Icy or snow we will rearrange for a better time)For more information:Contact Deborah Bird 01582 – 661914 orEmail: [email protected]

HOMESTARTHave you got just 2 to 3 hours to spare each week to support a local young family who are struggling to cope? The charity Home-Start is looking for caring parents and grandparents. All training and sup-port is given and expenses paid. It’s a great way to gain new skills, make friends and really make a difference to your community.Tel: 01582 [email protected] www.home-startcentralbeds.org.uk

BREATHEASYDo you suffer from a lung condi-tion? 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 welcomeAs well as supporting each other we have a variety of speakers and also arrange day trips out.New members most welcomeMore info phone michael on 01582 602348

CHILTERN GATEWAY CENTRE

Chiltern Gateway Centre Shop, 01582 500925

50 things Activities2nd February & 2nd March

2 - 3 pm FREEBring the kids and join us on the first Sunday of the month get involve with National Trusts 50 thing to do before your 11 and ¾.Each Sunday you’ll get to cross another fantastic activity off you list and get outdoors and discover something new! We’ll be taking the kids to explore outdoors so remem-ber to dress for the weather.

Half Term Crafty Creative Fun17th - 21st February

Join us this half term and get mak-ing!We’ll be having a different activity happening every day from Kite to mask making and plenty of other creative craft fun. Please see the time table below. Monday - kite & flag making, Tuesday - mask making, Wednesday - Cress head making, Thursday - clay making, Friday - puppet making.

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

BEDFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY

The BNHS was formed in 1946 and its main function is to record the natural history of the county. It has numerous active recorders who cover many branches of natural his-tory, as well as Geology, Palaeon-tology and Meteorology, and whose reports are published in the annual journal, Bedfordshire Naturalist.Members also receive a quar-terly, less formal, newsletter, Wild About Beds and there are numer-ous meetings held throughout the year. These include field meetings, mainly during the summer, to Bedfordshire sites of natural history interest and sometimes to sites out of the county. Some of these are particularly aimed at families with young children. During the winter months there are illustrated talks held in the county and the society has a collection of natural history artifacts that it lends to schools.The Society, a registered charity, depends on annual subscriptions to carry out its work, as all officers are honorary. Membership is open to anyone, and is free to junior mem-bers. You certainly do not need to be an expert to join, and we are a friendly bunch! If you would like to join please contact Mary Sheridan, Hon. Mem-bership Secretary, 28, Chestnut Hill, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2TR Tel: 01525378245.All details are on the website, including a section, YounGnats, for younger members. Website: www.bnhs.org.uk

Forthcoming meetingsFebruary & March meetings At Maulden Village Hall, TL048380,TUESDAY 18th FEBRUARY, 7.45pm - Maulden Update on the Bedfordshire Orchid project, and whereeffort is needed for the coming sea-son’ by Richard Revels, Chris Boon, and Graham Bellamy.TUESDAY 18th MARCH, 7.30pm Maulden Annual General Meeting. Officers and Recorders will present their annual reports.

44 45

THE DUNSTABLE ORBIT CLUB

Tel: 01582 890270

CHILTERN GATEWAY CENTRE

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

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

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

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

DUNSTABLE BRIDGE CLUB

WATLING STREET CLUB

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

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

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

Children’s Cake Decorating WorkshopWednesday, 13 April 2011

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

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

Easter Trail and Activities22nd-25th April

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

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

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

Priory House Heritage CentreDunstable

Tel: 01582 890270Local History Talks

with Tea/CoffeeThursday Afternoons

2.30p, - 4.00pm£4.50 per person

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

a C1 patriotic freedom fighter?

31

SPOT THE ADVERT

Step On ItCANDYHANDYHANDSWANDSWINDSWINKS

Answers

Dillamore’s FurnishersPage 7

Caritas Harmony

Luton Ladies Voices Charity, Friendship & Compassion

Needs You!

Formerly known as the award winning Pasque Harmony, Caritas Harmony, is looking for:-

Second Sopranos and Altos To join our choir as we embark on rehearsing for our 3rd CD. A chance to experience the joy of making wonderful music, forging friendships for life, and also raising money to help our chosen charity Macmillan. All ages are welcome and the ability to read music is not essential, so why not come

along and see for yourself? We rehearse predominately on a Monday evening at

Stopsley Baptist Church Luton from 7.30 -10.00pm.

An Experienced Rehearsal Pianist

Our repertoire is extremely varied and our sense of humour second to none, so we are looking for an accompanist who appreciates good music whilst having fun along the way

with the 45 lovely ladies that are Caritas Harmony! Regular rehearsal commitments would be either a Monday or Thursday evening from 7.30 – 10.00pm at £40 a session at

Stopsley Baptist Church, Luton

Please contact our Musical Director Margaret Blenkin on

07802 675942 for further details

Got any News, charities, events, groups or good causes

to promote?

We can help!

And it’s Free!

17

Discover magic, pure and simple magic. Grow food,

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

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

ible Edible Todmorden set up in 2007 with her friend

Pam Warhurst. Together with the help of their commu-

nity they have grown being Incredible into a worldwide

revolution with 300 IE’s all over the world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

so I began!

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

ing to Dunstable Council and asking can you help, they

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

provided huge support. So together with some willing

volunteers we built this garden. We now have 5 raised

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

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

produced strawberries, tomatoes, fennel, coriander, mint,

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

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

We were involved with Anglia in Bloom this year and

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

Chatterley Dunstable Town Mayor and he is in full support

of our community garden. We had a massive raspberry

plant over the half term holiday and planted over 30 fruit

canes all donated for free.

Next year the garden will be used for the students from

Barnfield Vale Academy as the garden for their Enrichment

Option. This will involve teaching them all about com-

munity, nature and sustainable food production, in a way

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

potential for expanding this project.

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

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

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

to each other after harvesting the free vegetables and fruit.

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

tions of their time and donations of plants and materials

from the local businesses and the local community.

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

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

suppressant membrane and a few bags of mulch every tiny

bit of help is received with open arms.

Maybe a tree surgeon could deposit some free chippings

directly to our garden or a landscape gardener has extra

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

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

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

truly grateful.

Big love, smiles and nice tea to share

Sahira (pronounced Syra)

Like and share our Facebook page Incredible Edible Dun-

stableFor more information contact me on

01582 519132 or 07905 116623

INCRedible

5

4


The word on the street is that DUNSTABLE ROCKS,

the closing event for Dunstable Town Council’s Sum-

mer of Music, is going to attract phenomenal crowds.

This FREE event is headlined by legendary soul singer

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

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

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

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

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

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

a string of memorable hits that are still on radio playlists

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

soul legend has an undying passion to perform and on

Saturday, 18 August 2012 you can enjoy his celebrated

act ABSOLUTELY FREE .

DUNSTABLE ROCKS will open at 12 noon with local

performances along with bands Subset, The Call Up and

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

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

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

along, dance-along tunes getting Grove House Gardens

up on its party feet.

Keeping the party atmosphere going, Back to Black, the

Amy Whinehouse Experience will take up the reins with a

performance that encapsulates the look, the mannerisms

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

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

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

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

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

for this 80s hottie!!

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

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

supply both alcoholic and soft drinks. So what are you

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

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

a prime position.

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

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

ted on site and due to the enormous crowds expected at

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

picnic tables because of lack of space.

SATURDAY, 18 AUGUST 2012

Grove House Gardens 12 Noon - 10pm

25

24


With Bradley Wiggins becoming the first Briton to

win the Tour de France and an outstanding ending

sequence to the Olympics featuring a hoard of

chrome bedazzled scooters to the backdrop of The

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

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

life in the nations psyche. Unknowingly created in

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

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

sixties following a swathe of media coverage follow-

ing clashes with leather clad rockers on the south

coasts holiday resorts, mod has always been typified

by smart, clean cut individuals with an obsessive sar-

torial attention to detail and penchant for tailor made

suits and Italian scooters - forever set in cinematic

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

nia. Mod culture has remained firmly rooted in Brit-

ish culture ever since and can be seen even today

in Dunstable with the formation and rising presence

and popularity of the towns very own scooter club

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

2012 by a group of long standing mods, some new

to Dunstable, to raise the profile of the town and

mod culture, Ready Steady Go! were named after

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

ing member Micky Fallows explains more; "We all

came together and met during the summer of 2012

through the mod scene and felt the town needed a

scooter club with some glitz and glam. The public

love nothing more than seeing a line of scooters

dressed in chrome and lights. It raises a pride and

excitement in people with a piece of British culture

that they can all identify with in some aspect or

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

& Bistro on High Street South in September with

16 colourful and shiny steeds sat proudly on the

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

up this way from Watford and we were happy to

have a few of the guys from down there come up

and say hello." Following the buzz and excitement

the first meeting created amongst the scootering

fraternity, the groups second major meeting the fol-

lowing month saw over 100 people on 60 scooters

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

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

length of High Street South. "We were absolutely

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

clubs come down for the day from Aylesbury, Milton

Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Oxford and a few other

towns. The support has been incredible. The towns

shoppers and residents were out taking photos,

beeping their horns as they drove by and coming to

chat and have their pictures taken with the scooters.

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

most people whether they are immersed in it or not.

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

something the majority of people remember from

different parts of their lives and can identify with."

Since then club has had a continually growing core

membership and to this end have made the Four

Kings Bar their permanent home, meeting every

Thursday evening for a get together. Other founding

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

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

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

see new and younger faces come down, so pop

along and say hello and get involved. We have lots

going on and coming up. The Four Kings have been

amazing, welcoming us with open arms and playing

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

dition to their weekly get-together and large monthly

weekend meetings, the club are now focussing the

support they have been given into running some

charity events for their nominated charity - the Keech

Hospice childrens services - with the first being an

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

Four Kings Bar on Saturday 23rd February. Member

David Savage explains; “We have managed to get

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

come together for the night to hopefully help us raise

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

well!” Tickets for the charity night can be purchased

from from the Four Kings Bar, Hetty Spaghetty cloth-

ing, Vinyl Revelations record shop or online through

the clubs website. The club are always happy to

receive new members to club, as Micky concludes;

“Anyone wishing to get involved should come down

to the Four Kings on a Thursday evening. Whether

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

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

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

Dunstable.”

Dunstable

Scooter Club

5


4

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

glider, has been chosen to represent Britain

in the 2013 Women's World Gliding Cham-

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

Jenkins has been selected as the British Team

Captain.Helen has been flying at the London Gliding

Club for 5 years, initially wanting a "holiday

with a difference" and decided to go flying

again after a 9 year break from flying light

aircraft. "I much prefer the challenge of pow-

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

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

The competition will last over 14 days, and

each day over 50 women glider pilots from

around the world will be set task distances of

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

the prevailing weather conditions in order to

find rising air and fly these huge distances -

without an engine - is the essence of gliding.

The London Gliding Club has operated from

its airfield at the foot of the Dunstable Downs

since the early 1930's. It is famous among

the aviation community for cross-country,

aerobatics and vintage gliding, and is one of

the largest gliding clubs in the world.

There is a whole world to discover on your

doorstepwith your local Wildlife Trust in 2013

Here are some of your up and coming events

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

Come and find out about the importance of educa-

tion and community work and the differences it

makes to Blows DownsEvent: Indoor Talk

Booking: Essential

Date: Monday 11 Feb 2013

Time: 7.45pm – 9.15pm

Location: Priory Middle School,

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

Price: Donations gratefully accepted

Audience: AdultA Free Event For Youth Wildlife Rangers

Event: Fun Outdoor Activity for 13 - 19 Yr Olds

Booking: Essential

Date: Wednesday 20 Feb 2013

Time: 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Location: Blows Downs Nature Reserve,

Dunstable. Meet at Oakwood Avenue

Blows Down Litter PickCome and help the Blows Downs Conservation

Group to keep your local nature reserve looking

beautifulEvent: Outdoor Activity

Date: Sunday 17 March 2013

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: Blows Downs Nature Reserve,

Dunstable. Meet at the Half Moon Lane entrance

Price: Free. Turn Up On The Day

Audience: Everyone Welcome

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Community Open DayCome along and find out more about your local

nature reserve at Blows DownsEvent:

Activities for Adults & Kids

Date: Sunday 24 March 2013

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: Blows Downs Nature Reserve, Dunsta-

ble. Meet near to the Half Moon Lane entrance

Price: Donations gratefully accepted

Audience: Everyone Welcome.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For information Tel Ruth Sneath: 01525 874317

Email: [email protected]

Wildlife Trust

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

to non-profit organisations



■ Removal of old furniture■ Removal of new packaging■ Lounge, Dining & Bedroom furniture

■ Accessories and artefacts




Celebrating

Founded on tradition. Looking to the future.




46 High St. Leighton Buzzard. LU7 1EA Monday - Saturday9am - 5pm

From a single chair to a complete suite, Dillamore’s have a huge

display of quality furniture and accessories to choose from.

Over two showroom floors, we stock fine cabinet furniture including

beds, sofa-beds, upholstery, lift & rise recliners and adjustable beds.



• Removal Of Old Furniture• Removal Of Packaging• Lounge, Dining & Bedroom Furniture

• Accessories

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

visit your local showroom at Leighton Buzzard Garden CentreLeighton Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 9NX

Contact:Peter Pascan on 01525 [email protected]

WWW.CLADWINDS.COM

insuran

ce bac

ked 10

year

guarantee

established in 1985

Imagine beautiful windows for your home

Transform your home with beautiful new windows from Cladwinds. A trusted local firm with 28 years manufacturing and installing experience


Documents

The vine Luton - February March 2014 - Online Issue 1