The Vine Villages - April/May 2014 - Issue 12

VineConnecting local people to local businesses

the

WIN TICKETS

April/May 2014 Issue 12

Delivered FREE To • P i ts tone • Iv inghoe Aston • Marsworth• Edlesborough • Eaton Bray • Totternhoe • Toddington • Har l ington• Hockl i f fe • Stanbridge • Ti lsworth • Eggington • Tebworth • Dagnal l

FREE

Please mention the Vine when responding to adverts

for complete car care!

Thorn Farm, Thorn, Nr. Dunstable, Beds. LU5 6JH

☎ 01582 606507 www.elitemotorservices.co.uk

• Servicing - all makes and models to a high standard and without invalidating your manufacturers warranty• Air Conditioning Service and Repair• General Repairs• Fault Finding Diagnostic Service - to all vehicle systems• Tyres and Exhausts• MOT Service - taking your car from Pre-MOT Inspection through to certification

A long term established local businesswith highly experienced certified technicians

Car collection service available

Call us for friendly advice and check our competitive rates

Your One Stop Motoring Solutionwith Quality Service Guaranteed!

D. Daize D. AndrewsMob. 07831 403377 Mob. 07799 350386

The gym for busy people

Join today: www.anytimefitness.co.uk 01525 308646 [email protected]

G

YM OPEN •

•24/7 3

6

5 D AY S

Spring has sprungand summer is on the way!

Now is the time to get in shapeIf not now, when?

Enter our FREE competition to win 3 Months Free Membership

and a Jump Start Personal Training package

To enter fill out your details below and drop the coupon into our office

Name: ___________________________________________________

Email: ___________________________ Tel: ____________________

Tick box if you are interested in hearing about future promotions from Anytime Fitness oDraw will take place on 30 May 2014. Terms and conditions apply.

Billington Road (next to McDonalds & Shell) Leighton Buzzard LU7 9HH

JOIN TODAY!

AF LB A5 Ad.indd 1 19/03/2014 17:57

3

The gym for busy people

Join today: www.anytimefitness.co.uk 01525 308646 [email protected]

G

YM OPEN •

•24/7 3

6

5 D AY S

Spring has sprungand summer is on the way!

Now is the time to get in shapeIf not now, when?

Enter our FREE competition to win 3 Months Free Membership

and a Jump Start Personal Training package

To enter fill out your details below and drop the coupon into our office

Name: ___________________________________________________

Email: ___________________________ Tel: ____________________

Tick box if you are interested in hearing about future promotions from Anytime Fitness oDraw will take place on 30 May 2014. Terms and conditions apply.

Billington Road (next to McDonalds & Shell) Leighton Buzzard LU7 9HH

JOIN TODAY!

AF LB A5 Ad.indd 1 19/03/2014 17:57

4 Please mention the Vine when responding to adverts

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 contributors can accept and hereby disclaim any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors.Neither do they reflect the opinion of this publication. The Vine does not officially endorse any advertising mate-rial included within this publication.No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission.

80’s Mania Competition 6 Towm At Athe Crossroads 8Eating Out 14Looking Up! 16What’s Best For You 20In The Garden 28Social Problems 30Mabels News 34Consumer Clinic 38Puzzles 42Out & About 44

Advertising: Shelly Nesbitt01525 22237907852 [email protected]

This Month...

Copy deadline for our next issue - 15th May

Vinethe

Coaches, Holidays & Excursions

Watling Street, Dunstable, Beds LU6 3QP

Tel: 01582 60 00 00 Email [email protected] www.theobolds.com

OVER 200 FANTASTIC DAYS OUT!• Towns • Villages • Seaside • Special Events • Highgrove Gardens • Christmas Markets

THEATRE TRIPSIncluding

Strictly Tour, Robin Cousins Ice Show, War Horse, We Will Rock You, Jersey Boys,

From Here To Eternity, Les Miserables, Phantom Of The Opera.

SHORT BREAKS• Eastbourne Reunion Weekend

• Weymouth for Easter

Don’t Forget!We do PRIVATE HIREBook your group their own coach for a day trip or holiday

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE 2014 BROCHURE OUT NOW!

HOLIDAYS• Morecombe • Norfolk • LLandrindod Wells

• Exmouth and many more.

5www.thevinemagazine.comPlease mention the Vine when responding to adverts

80’s Mania Competition 6 Towm At Athe Crossroads 8Eating Out 14Looking Up! 16What’s Best For You 20In The Garden 28Social Problems 30Mabels News 34Consumer Clinic 38Puzzles 42Out & About 44

Put your child on the

path to success

Beechwood Park School Open Morning - May 23rd

To find out how we create an environment where every child can fulfil their potential, call our Registrar Liz Graham on 01582 840333

or visit www.beechwoodpark.net/openday

Beechwood Park School Markyate Hertfordshire AL3 8AW

• Montessori nursery for 3-4 year olds• Average teaching group of 15

• Optional, flexible, weekly boarding from Year 5• Breakfast and After School Clubs

6

maniaComing To Dunstable’s

Grove Theatre on Friday 9th May 2014!

Get Into The Grove!

You Looking At Me?So Are Over 18,000

Potential New Customers!To Find Out Just How Affordable It Is

To Advertise Here Call Shelly On 01525 222379

07852 453043or email [email protected]

for more information

www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

WIN 2 TICKETS for 80’s Mania at The Grove.

To enter simply like our facebook page -

The Vine Magazine, DUNSTABLE

one lucky winner will be picked at random

80’s MANIA, is the UK's Official 1980’s Multi Tribute Reunion Concert!

If you love the 80's - do not miss this show!

Kim Wilde, A-ha, Duran Duran, Wham, Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Madonna, Spandau Ballet, Madness, Erasure, The Human League... plus many many more LIVE in Concert!A massive line up of 25 best selling artistes are authentically recreated to look and sound how they did back in the decade that fashion forgot.Over 35 non stop hits with over 150 costumes are performed in this fast paced, high energy, feel good show together with the awesome Mania Band, and Dance Troupe, not forgetting the mind blowing huge video screen projection, laser and lighting design.New Romantics, leg-warmers, stiletto’s, shoulder pads, big hair, neon… it’s all there. Both on and off the stage.Be sure to arrive early as the party starts half an hour before with our 80's disco road show to get you all in the mood.With an ever growing cult following and con-tinued European success, 80's Mania has been touring the UK for the past 5 years and is now endorsed by ex Top of the Pops, Radio 1 and Saturday Superstore presenter, Mike Read.So, dig out your worst 80's fashions, if you dare, (men too, complete with make up!) and come and join us for the best 80's night out, ever!!Tickets available from www.80smaniashow.com or The Grove Theatre show box office Tel: 01582 602080 or www.grovetheatre.co.uk

80’s

Enjoy Home cooked food at the

Canalside Cafė Pitstone Wharf Breakfasts

Soups, Lunches Sandwiches, Toasties

Homemade Cakes, Cream Teas Hot and Cold drinks ===============

Open all Year April to Oct - Wed to Sun 10am-3pm August Daily/ Bank Holidays 10am -3pm Nov-Mar - Fri Sat Sun 10am- 2.30pm

=============== Email [email protected] Pitstone Wharf, Cheddington Road,

Pitstone, Bucks LU7 9AD 07769 961196

www.canalsidecafe.co.uk

7www.thevinemagazine.com

Call SewingMo for all your sewing needs:

Clothing alterationsDressmaking

BridalHome decor and upholstery

Vehicle upholstery

Professional, fast and friendly local service.

[email protected]

07581 396912

Edlesborough Flowers

Flowers, Gifts, Jewellery and more…

For all your floral requirements for any occasion, visit your local village florist in

Edlesborough. We also have a wide range of gifts including home ware, scarves,

jewellery, luxury toiletries and our own range of scented candles.

Pop in and see us or visit our website. Edlesborough Flowers, 2 High Street,

Edlesborough, Beds LU6 2HS. Tel 01525 221920.

[email protected]

www.edlesboroughflowers.co.uk

Mon – Thurs 9.30-4.00, Fri 9.30-5.30,

Sat 9.30-4.00

Sat 9.30-4.00

www.harmonybeautysanctuary.net6a Wallace Drive · Eaton Bray · LU6 2DF

01525 229111 / 07852 145053In Between Leighton Buzzard & Dunstable

Harmony E xist ing New Unise xHair & Beaut y Cl inic

10% Off First VisitOn Production of this Advert

3D ‐ LIPO (Inch Reduction)Non - Surgical Face Lift (Caci)

Skin Peels/Skin TighteningMicrodermabrasion

Teeth WhiteningBio Sculpture & OPI Gel Nails

Brow/lashes BarTanning

Spa/Pamper PartiesPrincess/Parties

Hairdressing ExtensionsBridal Hair/Makeup

Male Grooming

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

8

The Town At The Crossroads - Part XIIDunstable

By Paul Heley

Round about 1530, Henry 8th was not a happy bunny; everything was going wrong. His underlying problem was dynastic in that he felt he had to have a legitimate male heir in

order to continue the Tudor line or else there could easily be a repeat of the tragic fiasco of the Wars of the Roses stemming from the weakness of Henry 6th. A situation like that must be avoided at all costs. How-ever, it seemed that Queen Catherine (now aged 45) was clearly unable to supply the necessary heir but that Henry’s new amour, Anne Boleyn, being young, fit and healthy presumably should be able to do the business admirably. Somehow it had to be bye bye Catherine. But how?Unfortunately for Henry, Catherine wouldn’t play ball and flatly refused to agree to a divorce. Also, various deputations by the Cardinals Wolsey and Campeggio were unable to persuade the Pope that his original agreement to the marriage between Henry and Catherine was, with hindsight, unlawful (Popes then, like politicians today, never admitted they were wrong). Furthermore, the reluctant agreement by the universities (initiated by Cranmer) that the divorce should be allowed fell on the deaf ears of the English Catholic Church which only went along with papal decrees. It was stalemate all round.Clearly, things were getting out of hand, not only was there the problem of the Tudor dynasty but internal power politics were also rife (stoked by Sir Thomas Boleyn, Anne’s father, and the amoral Duke of Norfolk). And, to cap it all, alternative (and anti-Catholic) religious opinions were in the air. It was all becoming very messy - and very dirty. Strong feelings were being pulled in every direction. Politics has always been a dirty business.Let’s look briefly at the religious aspect. On the face of it, England was a Roman Catholic country answering only to the Pope in Rome - and Henry was a faithful follower of this doctrine. But since 1515/16, there had been an increasing (but very subliminal) undercurrent of dissent resulting from the teachings and writings of Martin Luther in Germany, I.e. an embryonic Protestant reformation. These rumblings (re-garded as heresy by the Church) coincided with a growing dissatisfaction regarding the general behaviour of the clergy who, in many cases, were accused of gross immorality and corruption. In other words, the Church was losing its grip and also the unquestioning obedience it demanded.Although Catherine was staunchly Catholic, Anne Boleyn - extremely well educated and highly intelligent - was tempted by these new religious thoughts and read passages to Henry who, although by no means persuaded, conceded that some of the ideas had some merit. In this, she was aided, perhaps surprisingly, by Archbishop Cranmer (Wolsey’s

successor) - also a convert. It was he (Cranmer) who, (like Baldrick in the “Blackadder” series), had a “cunning plan” and suggested that Henry should forget about the Pope altogether and declare himself Head of the Church instead. As such he would be able to do what he liked regarding marital matters. Although this was a tremendous step to take, it was perhaps the only way out of Henry’s “Grete and Weightie Matter” - so plans were put into motion.As is well known, the coquettish Anne Boleyn hung Henry out to dry for a very long time, refusing to sleep with him unless the result was marriage. But her resistance couldn’t last for ever and by 1532 they were lovers in every sense. In January 1533, they were secretly married, snubbing the Pope’s ruling and while Henry was still married to Cath-erine. The general populace was horrified: Catherine was still popular whereas Anne was considered little better than a whore. Consequently, Henry was rapidly losing any early popularity he had enjoyed and was becoming increasingly despotic.Things were going from bad to worse and something had to be done PDQ. In response, Catherine was moved to Ampthill Castle and yet another court was convened by Cranmer. The venue chosen was the Lady Chapel of Dunstable Priory which, being near enough to Ampthill for Catherine to attend was also distant enough from London so as not to cause riots. The court consisted of Cranmer (by now Archbishop of Canterbury), the Bishops of London, Winchester and Bath, Gervase Markham (Prior of Dunstable) and various legal advisers. Set up on the 8th May, 1533, Catherine was summoned the following day - but refused to attend. By her refusal, she was declared contumax such that any subsequent decisions were made in her absence. But unlike most of the quickfire trials in which Henry had a vested interest, this particular court sat for the next two weeks arguing the merits of the case one way and the other. Eventually, on the 23rd of May, 1533 - and in defi-ance of the Pope - the marriage between Henry and Cath-erine was annulled thereby breaking forever any clerical tie between England and Rome. The effect of this decision, not only upon England but upon Britain in general and the rest of Europe is the stuff of serious historical research. Let us simply say that it was immense.Following the annulment, the coronation of Anne (now heavily pregnant) quickly followed. Henry felt that his trou-bles should now be over and that the birth of the longed for and anticipated son would secure the Tudor dynasty once and for all. Fingers were tightly crossed!But even though he had untold wealth and total autocratic control over the kingdom, Lady Luck continued to play the unpredictable female and rarely smiled upon him thereafter.


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

Open 7 days a week including public holidaysMon - Sat: 5pm - 11pm Sun: 12 Noon - 10.30pm

~ SPECIAL GOURMET NIGHT ~

Every Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday(Excluding Bank Holidays)

4 Course meal and filter coffee £10.95 per person

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

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

Adults £9.95 Children (under 10 yrs) £6.95

• Separate function room available for all types of parties including Christenings, Birthdays, Hen nights, Stag nights, Engagements, Weddings etc.

• 20% OFF collected orders over £15.00

• 10% OFF home delivery orders over £15.00 (within a 5 mile radius)

• Ample Private car park

New Menu

New Dishes

Curry GardenRestaurant

& Horseshoes Public House

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

BOOK NOWFor

Easter Bank Holiday

weekend

£10 OFFWith this voucher

When2 or more dine get...

This voucher can be redeemed whenever two or more persons dine at the restaurant.May not be used in conjunction with any special offer/night. Valid until 31st May 2014.

10

AP WELDINGMotor Repairs & Welding Services

FREE COLLECTION & DELIVERYCambelts, Diesel, Petrol,

Diagnostic Checks, MOT’s Arranged

Unit 6, 81 Leighton Rd, Stanbridge, Nr. Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9HWTel: 01525 211707 Mob: 07838 656724 / 07986 033428

www.apwelding.co.uk

AA Window Repairs Specialist in replacing cloudy windows

www.aawindowrepairs.co.uk

Window handles Door handles Window seals Window/Door

locks

Misty windows Draughty windows Window hinges Faulty doors And much more

Call our repairs manager direct for an appointment on: 07432679405

Alan & Gemma

Local family run business built on reputation. We specialise in replacing the misty/cloudy window panes not the frames. Saving you money! We also fix all types of double glazing problems and wont try to sell you new windows. We offer free advice and free no obligation quotes. We also offer an OAP DISCOUNT. Remember we are a local family run business not a franchise. Thank you for reading.

The old cliché “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 25 years ago, the club has raised nearly £60,000 for local charities from events such as quiz nights, stalls at carnivals and coffee mornings. We also give our time to help organisations and people in the community, such as marshalling at fun runs and helping to put on choir concerts for local senior citizens.

However, there is more to belonging to Orbit than the camaraderie and teamwork involved in organising community and fundraising events. The emphasis is very much on having fun and providing an active social calendar – anything from llama-trekking, archery and 10-pin bowling, to meals, cinema trips and even taking to the skies in a glider! We plan events to suit all budgets, and many of them are free or low cost, such as walks, games nights or simply getting together for a chat at the local pub. Annual membership is just £15. The club is keen to expand its community, social and fundraising events and hopes that new members would bring fresh ideas along with them. In return we can offer you friendship and a sense of belonging as part of our team. Whatever your skills and background, everyone has something to offer, and we can all help to improve the communities we live in - and raise much-needed funds for worthy causes. Orbit meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Dunstablians Rugby Club, Bidwell Park, Bedford Road, Houghton Regis, LU5 6JW, from 8 pm. Our first meeting of the month is a planning meeting, where we discuss what community, social or fundraising events we would like to hold. Our second meeting (3rd Tuesday of the month) is purely a social gathering at the club. Give us a try! You’ll be given a very warm welcome.

For more information please visit www.orbitclub.org.uk/dunstable or contact Mark on 01582 539379 or Julie on 01582 535761. You can also email the club directly from the website.

(351 words)

Dunstable & District Orbit Club Supporting the Community

Active Social Calendar Charity Fundraising

The old cliché “the more you put in, the more you get out” is

certainly true for the

members of Dunstable and District Orbit Club. S

ince its inception over 25 years

ago, the club has raised nearly £60,000 for local charities from events such as quiz

nights, stalls at carnivals and coffee mornings. W

e also give our time to help

organisations and people in the community, such as marshalling at fun runs and

helping to put on choir concerts for local senior citiz

ens.

However, there is more to belonging to Orbit than the camaraderie and teamwork

involved in organising community and fundraising events. The emphasis is

very

much on having fun and providing an active social calendar – anything from llama-

trekking, archery and 10-pin bowling, to meals, cinema trips and even taking to the

skies in a glider! We plan events to suit all budgets, and many of them are free or

low cost, such as walks, games nights or sim

ply getting together for a chat at the

local pub. Annual membership is just £15.

The club is keen to expand its c

ommunity, social and fundraising events and hopes

that new members would bring fresh ideas along with them. In return we can offer

you friendship and a sense of belonging as part of our team. Whatever your skills

and background, everyone has something to offer, and we can all help to improve

the communities we live in - and raise much-needed funds for worthy causes.

Orbit meets on the first

and third Tuesday of the month at Dunstablians Rugby Club,

Bidwell Park, Bedford Road, Houghton Regis, LU5 6JW, from 8 pm. Our first

meeting of the month is a planning meeting, where we discuss what community,

social or fundraising events we would like to hold. Our second meeting (3rd Tuesday

of the month) is purely a social gathering at the club. Give us a try! You’ll be given

a very warm welcome.

For more information please visit w

ww.orbitclub.org.uk/dunstable or contact Mark on

01582 539379 or Julie on 01582 535761. You can also email the club directly from

the website.

(351 words)

Dunstable & District Orbit Club

Supporting the Community

Active Social Calendar

Charity Fundraising

Supporting The Community! The old cliché “the more you put in, the more

you get out” is certainly true for the members of Dunstable and District Orbit Club. Since its incep-tion over 25 years ago, the club has raised nearly £60,000 for local charities from events such as quiz nights, stalls at carnivals and coffee mornings. We also give our time to help organisations and people in the community, such as marshalling at fun runs and helping to put on choir concerts for local senior citizens.However, there is more to belonging to Orbit than the camaraderie and teamwork involved in organising community and fundraising events. The emphasis is very much on having fun and providing an active social calendar – anything from llama-trekking, archery and 10-pin bowling, to meals, cinema trips and even taking to the skies in a glider! We plan events to suit all budgets, and many of them are free or low cost, such as walks, games nights or simply getting together for a chat at the local pub. Annual membership is just £15.The club is keen to expand its community, social and fundraising events and hopes that new mem-bers would bring fresh ideas along with them. In return we can offer you friendship and a sense of belonging as part of our team. Whatever your skills and background, everyone has something to offer, and we can all help to improve the communi-ties we live in - and raise much-needed funds for worthy causes.Orbit meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Dunstablians Rugby Club, Bidwell Park, Bedford Road, Houghton Regis, LU5 6JW, from 8pm. Our first meeting of the month is a plan-ning meeting, where we discuss what community, social or fundraising events we would like to hold. Our second meeting (3rd Tuesday of the month) is purely a social gathering at the club. Give us a try! You’ll be given a very warm welcome.For more information please visit oue websitewww.orbitclub.org.uk/dunstable or contact Mark on 01582 539379 or Julie on 01582 535761. You can also email the club directly from the website.

PEST CONTROL

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...for all your pest solutions

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PEST CONTROL

...for all your pest solutions

N

...for ALL your pest solutionsPeter Tong

01525 220653 or 07958 669706

1110

Do you need to review your current plans?

Mortgages, Insurance, Pensions & Investments

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

[email protected]

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

www.sterlingandlaw.com

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



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

[email protected]

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

www.sterlingandlaw.com

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



LOCAL OFFICE: ToddingtonContact: Philip HadlowTel/Fax: 01525 874100Mobile 07768 277 [email protected]

DO YOU NEED FINANCIAL ADVICE?

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

repayments on your mortgage.www.sterlingandlaw.com

P.W WINDOW CLEANING SERVICES

Commercial & Domestic Window Cleaning

High Reach Water Fed Pole System- FREE DEMONSTRATION -

Contact: Peter WaldockOffice: 01582 754388 Mobile: 07713 568116

Email: [email protected]

JS PlasteringAn established business covering

Herts, Beds and BucksCovering all aspects of plasteringSpecialising in Venetian plaster

(marble effect)

07717 205974 / 01525 792611

www.plastererbucks.co.uk

Very reasonable rates Quick turnaround

Stage payments accepted on restorationsWork carried out by

Andy Thomas - ex F1 sidecar racerClassic Motorcycles, The Old Bakery,

Watling Street, Hockliffe, Beds, LU7 9LP

Tel: 01525 211922 Mob: 07799 294754

Classic MotorcyclesService, Repair and Restoration

of ALL Bikes Classic And Modern

We’ll put your bike back together

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 *


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

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Spring Offer! 10% OFF ALL BLINDS with this advert until 30/05/14

Chinese RestaurantNew May Fu

EAT AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE!Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday

Available (Eat in only) Sunday: 12.00pm - 5.00pm

Tuesday & Wednesday: 5.00pm - 9.00pmAdults £17.80 - Children (under 10) £8.40

Pensioners £12.00 *Minimum of 2 people

17/19 Marsworth Rd, Pitstone Ne. Leighton Buzzard. LU7 9AT

All our dishes are freshly cooked to order

Tel: 01296 661969 01296 662180 01296 668136

www.just-eat.co.uk www.hungryhouse.co.uk

FREE HOME DELIVERYOn orders over £15 & within a 3 mile radius.

Over 3 miles a £2 charge will apply

Opening Hours: Sunday: 12.00pm - 10.00pm Tuesday - Thursday: 5.00pm - 10.00pm

Friday & Saturday: 5.00pm - 11.00pmClosed Mondays except for Bank Holidays then we close on a Tuesday

Under New Management

Take Awaywith ALL orders over £15

FREE PRAWN CRACKERS

Plenty Free Parking Cards Accepted

New May Fu Chinese restaurant has under gone some changes recently, as well as being under new management it has also undergone a refurb. Having heard only good things, we thought we would give it a try and find out what every one was raving about. Located in Pitstone, it was a welcome change to venture out of Town and try something new... We were not disappointed.Our table was booked for 8pm. We were greeted by friendly staff and escorted to our table by Eddie who, I am pleased to say, was our waiter for the evening. The new decor is simple and neutral with touches of the orient and the interior is spa-cious, making for a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.The menu is varied and offers a great choice of authentic Chinese dishes and on selected days an “eat as much as you like” option is available.Having notified Eddie we had a vegetarian in our party, the kitchen were only too happy to accommodate a few changes to the set menu.We opted for a mixed hors d’oeuvres starter, the chicken satay with peanut sauce was a particular favourite and unlike any I had tasted before. For our main course we had crispy beef and sweet & sour fish accompanied by vegeta-ble chow mein and sides, all of which I would recommend. The food was full of flavour and freshly prepared. To drink, we opted for the house white, a Sauv’ blanc, which was reasonably priced and certainly went down well!If you’re looking for good authentic Chinese food then go no further. The food is delicious and the service superb.

Eating Out

New May Fu17 Marsworth Rd

PitstoneLU7 9AT

01296 661969

Restaurant Review

14

Chinese RestaurantNew May Fu

EAT AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE!Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday

Available (Eat in only) Sunday: 12.00pm - 5.00pm

Tuesday & Wednesday: 5.00pm - 9.00pmAdults £17.80 - Children (under 10) £8.40

Pensioners £12.00 *Minimum of 2 people

17/19 Marsworth Rd, Pitstone Ne. Leighton Buzzard. LU7 9AT

All our dishes are freshly cooked to order

Tel: 01296 661969 01296 662180 01296 668136

www.just-eat.co.uk www.hungryhouse.co.uk

FREE HOME DELIVERYOn orders over £15 & within a 3 mile radius.

Over 3 miles a £2 charge will apply

Opening Hours: Sunday: 12.00pm - 10.00pm Tuesday - Thursday: 5.00pm - 10.00pm

Friday & Saturday: 5.00pm - 11.00pmClosed Mondays except for Bank Holidays then we close on a Tuesday

Under New Management

Take Awaywith ALL orders over £15

FREE PRAWN CRACKERS

Plenty Free Parking Cards Accepted

www.thevinemagazine.com15

By Seb Jay

Looking Up!in April and May 2014

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky

Dark Sky Telescope Hire [email protected]

Catch Mars At Its Best For 2014: April and May this year is a great time to view Mars through a telescope. The Red Planet reaches opposition on April 8th, and so is at its biggest and brightest for 2014. In April look to the south east sky as soon as it gets dark for a bright orange coloured ‘star’. Through the evening Mars climbs higher into the sky and swings over towards the south. By May Mars can be found more than 30-degrees above the horizon towards the south in the late evening twilight. In a telescope you’ll see the Red Planet’s ice cap, and dark markings on the Martian surface.

Watch The Lyrids Meteor Shower: The maximum of this year’s Lyrids Meteor Shower falls on April 22nd. Expect to see up to 25 shoot-ing stars per hour flashing across the night sky between midnight and dawn on the 22nd, and again once it is dark on the evening of the 22nd. Look high up to the east for your best view of the Shower.

Get A Glimpse Of Saturn In The Evening Sky: Saturn follows Mars into the evening sky this year. By Mid April the ringed planet is rising in the south east by 11pm. Come Mid May it is already 10-degrees above the south east horizon by the time it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn looks spec-tacular. You can see the planet’s rings, markings in Saturn’s atmosphere and some of the planet’s

Scetch of Mars through a telescope.

16

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WE NOW OFFER FITTED KITCHENS

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

This is a golden time for those in debt. While that may seem a strange thing to say, the best EVER deals for cutting loan, store or credit card costs are now on the market. So if you’ve existing

debts, a little bit of action could save you £100s or £1,000s.

The aim is to cut the interest rate you pay, so more of your repayments clear the debt rather than servicing the interest, so you're debt-free far quicker.

STOP BORROWING Borrowing more just makes the problem costlier and longer-lived. You can’t borrow your way out of debt. The tips below are about getting new products, not bor-rowing more.

CREDIT & STORE CARD DEBT Shift to 31mths 0%. If you've debts on cards, do a balance transfer. This is where you ask a new card to pay off debts on other cards, so you owe it instead, hopefully at a cheaper rate. To get a card, you must pass a credit score. Usually the only way to find out is to apply, which marks your file. To get round that, find which card’s most likely to accept you with my free Eligibility Checker at www.mse.me/eligibility Follow the balance transfer golden rules: a) Always repay at least the set monthly minimum, or you lose special rates. b) Always plan to shift the debt again or fully repay before the 0% ends, or these cards' rates jump to 18.9% and 17.9% representative APR. c) Don't spend on these cards – it's usually not at the same cheap rate.

LOAN DEBT: Can you cut the cost?This is more difficult, as most old loans charge up to two months' interest to repay early, which needs factoring in. It's worth trying if you can get a much lower APR loan (ie, more than a fifth off) and have a while left to repay – especially if your credit score's improved since getting the loan.

OVERDRAFTS/CATALOGUES: Shift to 0% If you've a costly overdraft or need to put money in a bank account to pay off catalogue debts, there’s a way to use a credit card for this. A few balance transfer cards let newbies 'money transfer' cash into your bank account, so you then owe the card instead.

You could, of course, find a 0% overdraft. Both First Direct and Nationwide offer this if you switch to them, but the amounts offered are usually limited.

DON'T REPAY ALL DEBTS EQUALLY Attack the highest APR first. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APR. Then focus every penny on clearing the highest APR one as it grows fast-est, just paying the minimum on the others. Once that's clear, move to the next highest. The more you pay off, the better. If you just stick to minimum repayments, you’ll take years or decades to be debt-free (they're designed so you just clear the interest). The exception to the ‘highest APR first’ rule is loans with penalties for overpaying early. SET UP A DIRECT DEBIT This will help protect your credit score. Forget or make late repayments and you risk losing 0% deals, being fined and suffering a hit on your credit score. So set up a direct debit to cover at least the monthly minimum, then manually pay more on top each month.

GOT BOTH DEBTS AND SAVINGS? STOP! £1,000 credit card debt at 18% costs £180 a year, while the same amount saved in top paying savings earns just £15 before tax. If you’re thinking “yes, but I like some spare cash”, this is often false security. More at www.mse.me/ClearDebtsWithSavings

FREE DEBT CRISIS HELP While my tips above should help cut the cost of debt, for some people that isn’t enough. If you're struggling to meet your minimum repayments and basic bills, have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary, or can’t sleep for worry, you're likely to be in debt crisis. If so, ignore the options above and contact a non-profit debt advice service that uses a different set of solutions, such as StepChange (stepchange.org), Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or National Debtline (national-debtline.co.uk). Don’t worry, they’re there to help, not judge.

Recover From Debt

20

21

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

This is a golden time for those in debt. While that may seem a strange thing to say, the best EVER deals for cutting loan, store or credit card costs are now on the market. So if you’ve existing

debts, a little bit of action could save you £100s or £1,000s.

The aim is to cut the interest rate you pay, so more of your repayments clear the debt rather than servicing the interest, so you're debt-free far quicker.

STOP BORROWING Borrowing more just makes the problem costlier and longer-lived. You can’t borrow your way out of debt. The tips below are about getting new products, not bor-rowing more.

CREDIT & STORE CARD DEBT Shift to 31mths 0%. If you've debts on cards, do a balance transfer. This is where you ask a new card to pay off debts on other cards, so you owe it instead, hopefully at a cheaper rate. To get a card, you must pass a credit score. Usually the only way to find out is to apply, which marks your file. To get round that, find which card’s most likely to accept you with my free Eligibility Checker at www.mse.me/eligibility Follow the balance transfer golden rules: a) Always repay at least the set monthly minimum, or you lose special rates. b) Always plan to shift the debt again or fully repay before the 0% ends, or these cards' rates jump to 18.9% and 17.9% representative APR. c) Don't spend on these cards – it's usually not at the same cheap rate.

LOAN DEBT: Can you cut the cost?This is more difficult, as most old loans charge up to two months' interest to repay early, which needs factoring in. It's worth trying if you can get a much lower APR loan (ie, more than a fifth off) and have a while left to repay – especially if your credit score's improved since getting the loan.

OVERDRAFTS/CATALOGUES: Shift to 0% If you've a costly overdraft or need to put money in a bank account to pay off catalogue debts, there’s a way to use a credit card for this. A few balance transfer cards let newbies 'money transfer' cash into your bank account, so you then owe the card instead.

You could, of course, find a 0% overdraft. Both First Direct and Nationwide offer this if you switch to them, but the amounts offered are usually limited.

DON'T REPAY ALL DEBTS EQUALLY Attack the highest APR first. Once your debts are as cheap as possible, list them all, including overdrafts, in order of APR. Then focus every penny on clearing the highest APR one as it grows fast-est, just paying the minimum on the others. Once that's clear, move to the next highest. The more you pay off, the better. If you just stick to minimum repayments, you’ll take years or decades to be debt-free (they're designed so you just clear the interest). The exception to the ‘highest APR first’ rule is loans with penalties for overpaying early. SET UP A DIRECT DEBIT This will help protect your credit score. Forget or make late repayments and you risk losing 0% deals, being fined and suffering a hit on your credit score. So set up a direct debit to cover at least the monthly minimum, then manually pay more on top each month.

GOT BOTH DEBTS AND SAVINGS? STOP! £1,000 credit card debt at 18% costs £180 a year, while the same amount saved in top paying savings earns just £15 before tax. If you’re thinking “yes, but I like some spare cash”, this is often false security. More at www.mse.me/ClearDebtsWithSavings

FREE DEBT CRISIS HELP While my tips above should help cut the cost of debt, for some people that isn’t enough. If you're struggling to meet your minimum repayments and basic bills, have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary, or can’t sleep for worry, you're likely to be in debt crisis. If so, ignore the options above and contact a non-profit debt advice service that uses a different set of solutions, such as StepChange (stepchange.org), Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) or National Debtline (national-debtline.co.uk). Don’t worry, they’re there to help, not judge.

Recover From Debt

Rugged & Tough

Hockliffe, Bedfordshire, LU7 9LS

(Opposite Post Office)

t: 01525 211488e: [email protected]

22

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

from £17.50

he-fixed-my-pc.co.uk

07974 17522201525 210008

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[email protected]

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

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setup, smart TV and network setup.

Leighton Buzzard Bowling ClubOpen Day

Sat 19th April 10am-5pmSun 20th April 10am-2pmRefreshments available

flat shoes or trainers required, all other equipment provided.

01525 371 [email protected]

Leighton Buzzard Bowling Club, Grovebury Road, Leighton Buzzard

LU7 4SWwww.lbbowling.co.uk

Try Bowls - Curling on grass!


Brendan’sPainting & Decorating

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Mobile: 07956 878643Phone: 01525 873179


www.brendansdecorating.co.uk

Local painter and decorator with 25 years experience,

available for all your interior and exterior decorating needs.

Free quotes • Reasonable rates • Fully insured

All Things Archery

Sunday 25th and Monday 26th May 2014

11am - 4pmHave-a-go archery

DemonstrationsMeet our archers

Find out how to get involved in this great sport

Free entry

•••

•

•

Sparrow Hall Farm, Edlesborough, LU6 2ES01525 229374

www.silverarrowarchery.co.uk [email protected]

Archery Open Weekend

A.L. HARWOOD

For All Your Building RequirementsBUILDING SERVICESBUILDING SERVICESBUILDING SERVICES

Family Run Business With Over 30 Years Experience!

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www.jazzercise-uk.com

For details ring Angela 01525 715208

facebook.com/jazzercise.dunstablelutoneatonbray

“ Juggling a career and being a mum is challenging. Jazzercise is my time for ME! It’s fun and the hour flies by. I love setting a good example of a fit lifestyle for my daughters” Ann 35

Classes inDunstable,

Luton & Eaton Bray

See our Facebook page for class details

www.jazzercise.co.ukFor details ring Angela on

01525 715208

24

G

love

s

Pla

nt S

uppo

rt

W

ater

But

ts

B

ird F

eed

Stat

uary

Find all things green...at Garden Scene!

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25

Opening Times9:00am - 5:30pmSun- 10:00am - 4:30pClosed on Wednesdays

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

user including:

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www.mmayling-brown.co.uk

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Mitchell Mayling-Brown

Carpenter &

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

Contact Will for a free no obligation written estimate

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

27

G & J GROUNDWORKRing Garry

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In The Garden

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Whether it’s as fast growing as a Triffid, a dainty floral twiner, or an evergreen

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match.For those of you lucky enough to have a south-facing doorway, why not

spoil yourself with the highly scented fragrance of Star

Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasmi-noides). Not only is it evergreen, but it boasts the added benefit of a claret-red leaf colour in autumn. For those with a north-facing en-trance, how about a plant combo starting with an early flowering Clematis tolerant of shade, such as ‘Frances Rivis’, followed by the stunning pink flowers of Rosa ‘Zephirine Drouhin’, perfect in shade with the added bonus of being a thornless variety.If it’s a shady spot and a fast growing evergreen you require you really can’t beat Ivy, but I understand many people are not huge fans, so why not put in the extra effort and seek out a great alternative known as Pileostegia viburnoides. It’s a bit of a mouth-ful but not only is it evergreen, it will provide white flowers in sum-mer and like Ivy is a self clinger, but nowhere near as vigorous.As well as the other common examples, such as Wisteria (only plant this in full sun and if you are prepared to tie it in and prune it twice annually), Honeysuckle

and Pyracantha (great for deter-ring intruders due to its woody thorns), there is a whole range of other shrubs which can be grown against a wall or fence, not forgetting trees of course, such as the beautiful trained fruit trees we often see in Victorian walled gardens.Shrubs planted at around 30cm away from the base of the wall or fence can be manually tied in and make excellent wall cover, often with the added benefit of flowers. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ for example, or Garrya elliptica make unusual evergreen wall coverings, and look great with a second flowering climber twining through. Don’t forget the huge variety of annuals available which you can grow from seed, such as Sweet Peas, Morning Glory, or maybe try climbing French beans as an edible wall covering?Do ensure that you provide sturdy wires for plants to travel up. The best and most cost-effective way is simply to fix vine eyes (spaced horizontally around 2m apart) to the fence or wall and vertically at 30cm intervals. Then use a taught network of galvanised wires to provide support. Be sure to tie climbers in horizontally and not vertically as most people do … this way they will look great in your garden rather than flopping over the fence and delighting your neighbour. Now that really would drive me up the garden wall!

If your garden is short on space, rammed with plants, or you simply have an unsightly vertical surface to cover, climbing plants can be used to great effect: from clothing frameworks such as

pergolas and arches to hiding sheds and even neighbours!

Sow new lawns or repair bare patches.

Protect fruit blossom from late frosts.

If any of your plants need support this year, put the supports in now so the plants grow up through them.

Check any tree ties to make sure the tie is not cutting into the trunk. Loosen any that are tight to allow room to expand.

Once the soil has warmed up, weed borders and apply a moisture-retaining mulch such as compost or bark.

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getting on with...

28


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There is a joke doing the rounds which goes something like: The best thing about being

a teen in the 1980s is that we made all our big mistakes before the internet was invented! There is much truth in that.When your teen tweets or posts a picture to Instagram, he or she probably doesn’t think about how it might affect her tomorrow, let alone how it might affect her chances of get-ting a job. The hard truth is, that what we send into cyberspace can be difficult to erase.There have been some recent news stories about young people losing jobs, or not even getting an interview, based solely on what someone from the company has seen on their MySpace or Facebook page.Many employers now use social media profil-ing to screen potential employees. Vetting a candidate's social media profiles can give employers an insight into someone’s personal-ity, character or work ethic.If your teen's profile is not set to 'private' it will be accessible to a potential employer and their content found through search engines like Google. This is true for Facebook, Twitter and

Instagram. It may be unfair and discrimina-tory but it happens, and even fairly innocuous material might be judged harshly by someone who doesn't know the person involved. You can help by getting involved in your child's social media presence. Become familiar with the tools they use, and offer advice to save them from making mistakes which may be difficult to correct. The good news is that you can help your teen clean up their social media sites before they get ready to apply for joTake an afternoon to go through each social media profile and delete any inappropriate photos or comments. There are some software products which can help, like SimpleWash, though these generally don't apply to photos.So does this mean you should stop your teen from using any social media? Most experts say that this isn't necessary. In fact a well-handled social media profile can be very beneficial. It allows young people to connect with those in the industry they’re trying to break into. By engaging with other professionals they can show that they’re both serious and knowledgeable.

SocialProblems

• Keep just one social media profile where you post personal information.• Make sure main profile photos and cover photos are conservative.• If something is even slightly questionable, do not post it publicly.• Be careful what you 'like' or comment on. If the person posting has a public profile your comment will be visible too.• Make your public image one you'd be happy to show to anyone, even your great granny. • Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know, or if you must, then put them on a 'restricted' list, but remember that privacy filters on social networking sites are subject to change and are not fail-safe. Check filters regularly.

Top tip from the experts keep your profile private!

30

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Mabel’s News

from Appledown

Hello again! I am Mabel the resident dog at Appledown Rescue and Rehoming Kennels in Eaton Bray. We are very pleased that Spring is here at last as this is a good time of year for people to decide to take on a canine companion - and we certainly have plenty to choose from! Dogs that, through no fault of their own, find themselves without a home and are just waiting atAppledown for someone to give them a second chance of happiness.

I would like to introduce you to one of them. This attrac-tive young lady is Gabby, a three year old lurcher. She is a sensitive dog and would prefer a fairly quiet home. She is fine with other dogs but would not be suitable for a home

with cats or other small animals. Gabby may need house-training but she is a bright girl and should learn quickly.

If you feel you could offer Gabby, or any of our other dogs, a loving and secure home please call in at the kennels any day between 10am and 4pm. Our staff will be happy to offer advice and information. Please note that we have restrictions on rehoming dogs to families with children under 7 years of age, so please ask for details.

FUN DOG SHOW Sunday 18th May At Appledown

A great day out for all the family and the dog! Have-a-go dog agility, variety of stalls, refreshments

and 10 fun dog show classes. Show opens 11am (classes commence 12 noon). Entries on the day.

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

Call 01525 220383 . E-mail [email protected].

(Reg. Charity No. 1116848)

Mabel’s News from Appledown Rescue

Hello again! I am Mabel the resident dog at Appledown Rescue and

Rehoming Kennels in Eaton Bray. We are very pleased that Spring is here at

last as this is a good time of year for people to decide to take on a canine

companion - and we certainly have plenty to choose from! Dogs that, through

no fault of their own, find themselves without a home and are just waiting at

Appledown for someone to give them a second chance of happiness.

I would like to introduce you to one of them. This attractive

young lady is Gabby, a three year old lurcher. She is a

sensitive dog and would prefer a fairly quiet home. She is

fine with other dogs but would not be suitable for a home

with cats or other small animals. Gabby may need house-

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If you feel you could offer Gabby, or any of our other dogs, a

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ampness caused by excessive condensation can lead to mould growth on walls and furniture, mildew on clothes and the rotting of wooden window frames …

mould is unsightly, damages property and can be detrimental to health.First steps against mould growth. We need to treat the mould already present in your home, then deal with the basic problem of condensation to stop mould reappearing:There are FOUR main factors that cause condensation:1. Too much moisture being produced in the home2. Not enough ventilation3. Cold surfaces4. The temperature of your homeYou need to look at all of these factors to cure a condensation problem.Our everyday activities add extra moisture to the air inside our

homes. Even our breathing adds moisture. Apparently one person asleep adds half a pint of water to the air during the night. (We recommend that you do not stop breathing !!!)To give you some idea of as to how much extra water this could be in a day, here are a few examples:• A bath or a shower - 2 pints• Drying clothes indoors - 9 pints• Cooking and use of a kettle - 6 pints• Bottled gas heater (8 hours use) - 4 pintsIf you have a condensation and mould problem in your home, whether you are a home owner or a landlord, we are happy to advise and will provide a free estimate for any remedial work that may be required.

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mould is unsightly, damages property and can be detrimental to health.First steps against mould growth. We need to treat the mould already present in your home, then deal with the basic problem of condensation to stop mould reappearing:There are FOUR main factors that cause condensation:1. Too much moisture being produced in the home2. Not enough ventilation3. Cold surfaces4. The temperature of your homeYou need to look at all of these factors to cure a condensation problem.Our everyday activities add extra moisture to the air inside our

homes. Even our breathing adds moisture. Apparently one person asleep adds half a pint of water to the air during the night. (We recommend that you do not stop breathing !!!)To give you some idea of as to how much extra water this could be in a day, here are a few examples:• A bath or a shower - 2 pints• Drying clothes indoors - 9 pints• Cooking and use of a kettle - 6 pints• Bottled gas heater (8 hours use) - 4 pintsIf you have a condensation and mould problem in your home, whether you are a home owner or a landlord, we are happy to advise and will provide a free estimate for any remedial work that may be required.

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38

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Would you like Any Cashback Today?

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

Consumer Clinic

The internet has of course brought some unwanted problems, but it has also brought some incredible benefits to us consumers. One of those benefits is the creation of ‘Cashback’ websites. Gosh I love them! In fact, I frequently bore people senseless telling them about the important of logging on and saving ££££ on your purchases.

If you haven’t come across the likes of ‘Quidco’ or ‘TopCashback’ before, let me explain how they work.

Cashback websites pay you a cash fee when purchasing goods or services via their website. The amount of cashback is gen-erally a percentage of the total you spend with the retailer. They tend to make their fee from the companies that they suggest on their site. Many of these are well known high street branches, some are lesser known retailers. They normally transfer the cash-back you’ve earned directly into your bank account as soon as they receive it. So it’s a win win for the consumer. They also provide voucher codes for thousands of retailers so you can gain discounts at the online checkout.All you have to do is:

1Register with one or more cashback site.

2 When you decide you want to make an online purchase

of a product or service, log into the cashback site, search the cashback rates available and follow the link to the company’s website.

3Make the purchase, and wait for the cashback to arrive in

your bank account (it normally takes at least a few weeks and should be tracked automati-cally).

Let me give you a couple of examples (chosen at random at the time of writing):It’s time to renew your car insurance. You get some online quotes and find that Tesco Insurance is offering you the best deal. You could of course just take out a policy with them directly on their website. That would be fairly silly though, because by going to Tesco In-surance via a cashback website, you would receive a cashback lump sum payment of £75 after completing the purchase. By going to them directly, you would have missed out on a £75 saving.You need a new washing machine. You find one you like at Currys. Again, you could just purchase it directly on the Currys website, but by going via a cashback website like Quidco or TopCashBack, you would stand to make 2% cashback on

the total purchase price. That would be £8 back on a £400 washing machine. Better than a slap round the face with a wet fish eh?!You can make additional money by referring your friends and relatives to the sites as well. I always say that you don’t get anything in this world for free. So how do the companies that offer the cashback benefit from this? Well, they gain because you’re more likely to buy from the retailers that are listed with those cashback sites.The important thing is to re-member to use the site. Which-ever online purchase you need to make: flights, insurance, elec-trical goods, perfume, clothes, wine or groceries, always go via a cashback website and start saving. I always remember and since I started using cashback websites 2 years ago and have already made £237.38. So go get yourself some free cashback!


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

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

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

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

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

3938 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

01582 521430

40

Did you know there’s a very special gift shop in Toddington that donates ALL its profits to Charity?

Please support us & visitThe Little Shop is based on the Green in Toddington. We stock a wide range of contemporary & beautiful

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GIFTS • CARDS • JEWELLERY • BEAUTY PRODUCTS & MUCH MORE

Open Mon 9-3, Tues/Wed 9-12, Thurs/Fri 9-5, Sat 10-4 • 36 Market Square Toddington


Did you know there’s a very special gift shop in Toddington that donates ALL its profits to Charity?

Please support us & visitThe Little Shop is based on the Green in Toddington. We stock a wide range of contemporary & beautiful

gifts & cards for adults & children. Great Prices – many products sold at below the RRP.

Run by volunteeRs, we donate 100% of pRofits to chaRity

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Friday 30 May - 4pm to 11pm,Saturday 31 May - 12 noon to 11 pmSunday 1 June - 12 noon to 5 pm.

Three day Beer Festival set in a closed off marquee in Grove House

Gardens with entertainment all week-end. £3.50 on Friday and Saturday &

£3 on Sunday. CAMRA members are free.

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

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

TODDINGTON HELPING HANDSWe are a group of about 30 volunteers who provide lifts to the doctors, dentists, hospitals, hairdressers etc for the residents of Toddington, Chalgrave, Wingfield and Tebworth.We also carry out the delivery of prescriptions, shopping and general errand running to those who are not able to do so themselves.During the last quarter we com-pleted in excess of 400 jobs in the local community.We now urgently need more vol-unteer drivers.Tel: 01525 633660

WATLING STREET CLUBWe are an independent social club for ex-Rotarians and similarly minded people and have been in existence for nearly 3 years. We are named ‘The Watling Street Club’ as our members form a link along the Wa-tling 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 668033

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

THE BOGTROTTERSThe Bogtrotters (Dunstable and Dis-trict Walking and Hostelling Group) are a group of about 90 walkers, hikers and hostellers. We run a surprisingly diverse range of activi-ties, 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

DUNSTABLE WIDunstable Downside WI meet two evenings a month on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at Watling Lower School Bullpond Lane at 7.0pm. We are friendly group and like to enjoy ourselves. We have a wide range of speakers with different talents and crafts, and also Quiz nights to test our brains. We welcome new members so join us and make new friends10th April - Jewellery by design by Wendy & Andy Schriver24th April - Priory FabricsFor more information telephone Chris Brewin 01582 520361 Chairperson

FRIENDS OF STUDHAM COMMONWe are a friendly,voluntary group whose aim is to conserve,maintain

and promote Studham Common as a haven for wildlife and a place for everyone to enjoy.For this purpose we meet as a work party on the third Saturday of each month (except Dec.) The work is not onerous and we enjoy the exercise and the good company –and a picnic lunch is pro-vided! Details from Pam on 01582 872608 [email protected]

CHILTERN GATEWAY CENTREChilterns Gateway Centre Shop,

01582 500925

Cadbury Easter Egg TrailDaily from 18th April to 22 April

11am - 4pm £2 per ticketJoin us for an exciting egg hunt with our sponsors Cadburys.Complete our trail exploring the Downs and win a yummy Cadburys chocolate egg! There’ll be lots of fam-ily Easter fun happening too, all in the glorious surroundings of Dunstable Downs.

International Dawn Chorus Day Walk

4th May 4:30 am - 9:45 am £2Witness one of the most beautiful

things in nature!International Dawn Chorus Day is the worldwide celebration of Nature’s daily miracle - the Dawn Chorus. En-joy an early morning walking to the Whipsnade Tree Cathedral and back along Whipsnade Downs listening to bird song along the way. Our guide will talk you through the different birds that call the Downs home and help identify bird calls out of the glorious chorus.

Butterfly walk17th & 24th May 11am - 1pm £2

Join the countryside team on an informative guided walk to look for the butterflies that thrive on the rare chalk grassland of Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade.

THE HEALING TRUSTArdley Hill School, Lowther Rd, Each Thursday evening 7.30 - 9pm. No charge, donations accepted. NFSH contact Pam Hill on 01582 606182Come for interest or healing.

44

Out About&• Clubs • Groups • Events• Community

PRIORY HOUSEPriory House Heritage Centre

Tel: 01582 891420

TEA TIME TALESTalks of local and nationalinterest with tea or coffee

and a pastry.Alternate Thursday afternoons

2.30 - 4.00pm £4.75 per personApril 3rd

A Thousand Miles up the Amazon - Jean Yates, Dunstable Town Guide

April 17thLaw and Order in Dunstable - Tony Woodhouse, Dunstable Town Guide

May 1st Medieval Physic Garden, herbs

treat, dye and eat - Deborah Bird, Garden Designer

May 15thChina and the Terracotta Warriors - Jean Yates, Dunstable Town Guide

May 29thThe Great War; Animals the forgot-

ten heroes - Ann Ledger, Dunstable Town Guide

ST GEORGES DAY Saturday 19 April

Priory House Gardens, 10am to 4pm

Free St. George’s Day event with entertainment for all of the family!

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONSLooking for somewhere to exhibit your work? Why not try Priory House? Priory House has an exhibition space which can be used for groups or individuals to display artwork, photography or craft work. Exhibition items are often sold through the Gift Shop. For further in-formation please contact Priory House.

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

BEDFORDSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETYDate for your diary!

Sunday 18 May Family Day at Jordans Mill nr BiggleswadeDisplays, nature walks, craft activi-ties, bughunting & lots more.More details on website soon www.bnhs.org.ukFor more information contact Mary Sheridan 01525 378245

PRIORY LADIESWe are a lively group of ladies, if you like interesting talks, meeting people and occasional trips out then why not join us!We meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month 8.00pm - 10.00pmMeetings are held at Chews House, 77 High Street South, Dunstable LU6 3SFThere will be a Spring Dinner at Dunstable Downs Golf Club during April.Tel: Monica 01582 667030 or Barbara 01582 606300

DUNSTABLE LADIES CHOIRLadies - new members are welcome to join our choir. If you enjoy sing-ing why not come to a Tuesday evening rehearsal from 7.30-9.30pm at Houghton Regis Baptist Church, Hammersmith Gardens LU5 5RG and give us a try. No audition neces-sary. We also have a lively social life including meals out, get-togethers and trips to concerts and shows. Dunstable Ladies Choir Spring Concert: do join us at 7.30pm on Saturday 17th May at St Augustine’s Church, Mayfield Road, Dunstable for a lively programme of music for all the family. Tickets available on the door, priced £8.00, including homemade refreshments at the interval.Further details from Pat Jackson 01582 520302.

HOUGHTON REGIS BOWLS CLUBOpen day on the 4th may from 11am to around 4pm The only thing needed is flat soled shoes. All ages and abilities are welcome. Children over 12 years must be ac-companied by a parent please.Light refreshments will be available.Please come and have a go, look forward seeing you all, any enquiries please ring me on 01582518645

DANESBOROUGH CHORUS SPRING CONCERT

ROMANTIC HARMONY FOR EASTER

Spring birdsong will be comple-mented by Spring harmony in two Romantic performances at the next Danesborough Chorus concert at 7.30pm on Saturday 5 April in St Mary’s Church, Woburn. The choir will perform Liszt’s Missa Choralis and Dvorak’s Mass in D in a concert conducted by Ian Smith. Providing expert accompaniment, organ-ist John Witchell - who recently appeared in BBC TV series Great Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo - will also perform Liszt’s intriguingly-titled Fantasy and Fugue on the Theme B-A-C-H.“Musically, both Liszt and Dvorak belong to the Romantic era, and they were also noted primarily as instrumental composers” said Ian Smith. “However, this concert will demonstrate their outstanding skills as masters of choral composi-tion. Whatever the weather, come prepared to be wrapped in a warm blanket of vocal harmony!”A prolific composer, Hungarian Franz Liszt was a gifted pianist and attracted a huge following of fans as he toured Europe. However, the 1860s were a time of personal de-spondency for him, and he went to a monastery near Rome. His spiritual turmoil led him to compose Missa Choralis there in 1865, a work in-spired by the music of Palestrina and his use of plainsong. This setting of the Latin Mass is largely unaccom-panied and exudes contemplative peace and unexpected harmonies.Antonin Dvorak was a devout Catholic, attending Mass throughout his life. His Mass in D was commis-sioned for the opening of the private chapel of his friend Josef Hlavka, a distinguished Prague architect, in 1887. It conjures up, as one critic said, “the atmosphere of the Czech countryside: not a stately ritual cer-emony .... but the spirit of a smiling, pleasant region of hills and woods, ... the expression of the wisdom and security of his native land.”Tickets for the concert are £18 and £14 (reserved) and £10 (unreserved), and the price includes a free concert programme. For tickets, call the Box Office, tel: 01908 583460, or visit website www.danesborough.org.uk.


• Clubs • Groups • Events• Community

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The Vine Villages - April/May 2014 - Issue 12