Jan2014

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JANUARY 2014 ISSUE 32

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

January 2014

Match Fixing

Barry Fry’s thoughts

MILLMAN

JEWELLERS OF DISTINCTION 2 Church Arcade Bedford Tel: 01234 354026

AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

DUKAN DIET Kickstart 2014 with this 7 day plan

CELEBRITY MATCH Win a pair of Sorel boots as worn by the stars

YOUR VERY OWN DOWNTON ABBEY A stay at Danesfield House

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

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Milton Keynes

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Club relaunch experience the new future in indoor cycling and Freestyle training

01234 763 930 fitnessfirst.co.uk

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NEVER UNDERSOLD POLICY

we will not be beaten on price for a true ‘like for like’ package

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G. Butler

Loft and Garage Conversion Specialist We will provide a service from planning to completion █ █ █ █ █ █

Over 23 years experience Free quotes Professional advice Design, planning & construction available All work fully insured Local business

01234 327205 07801 880557 www.loftconversionsbedfordshire.co.uk

The space above your head is the room you have always dreamed of

“This year a wasted space for your Christmas decorations, next year a fabulous room for your family” As you put your Christmas decorations back in the loft – STOP! Have a look around at the space you have, now might well be the time to convert that forgotten space that is currently being held hostage by bags and boxes of family keepsakes as well as those Christmas decorations!

Whether you want a fabulous master bedroom with ensuite, office space to work in, a playroom o an extra bedroom - then look no further than releasing the space under your roof to create the extra rooms you need in your home Converting your loft is a cost effective and less stressful alternative to moving house. It is a great solution to your space problems.

G. Butler is a loft conversion company that specialises in just this, they have over 24 years experience, are Bedford based and have an excellent reputation in the area for high quality workmanship and the service they offer as well as being a member of the Bedfordshire Trading Standards.

Gary Butler director of the company is only too happy to

discuss your requirements and show you previous work as well as provide you with excellent customer references.

All of their tradesmen are fully qualified and work as part of a team to produce a quality product from start to finish.

Each customers requirements are different and each member of the team understands this, thus will treat every loft conversion individually, tailoring the service to meet the customers needs to ensure they get the fully functional beautiful loft conversion they’ve always wanted.

G. Butler takes the hassle out of your conversion by providing the total package starting with the initial FREE consultation design and planning right through to the completion of the room of your dreams.

So instead of putting those Christmas decorations back in the loft why not give Gary a call so that this time next year “That space above your head will be the room you’ve always dreamed of” G. Butler Loft Conversions 01234 327205 wwwloftconversionsbedfordshire.co.uk

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Welcome...

Hi everyone As we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome 2014 we look back at a year that has been hectic yet great fun for us.

We have grown our distribution of what is the regions favourite premium luxury lifestyle magazine, whilst continuing to build brilliant relationships with our advertisers and readers alike. We held our second amazingly successful Charity Ball (pictures from this can be found on page 35). We have introduced our twice yearly Wedding Magazine as well as running our own monthly Affinity Network Group and who can forget our fabulous Affinity Calendar Girls Calendar in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer – all in all we’ve had quite a year!! And 2014 looks like being even better…

With a ladies night at the end of this month (this is really one not to be missed!!), a twice yearly Affinity Wedding Showcase taking place (the first on Sunday 23rd March) at The Harpur Suite, Corn Exchange in Bedford), our Annual Charity Ball this year is on Saturday 11th October along with some other charity events - we can’t wait – 2014 is certainly a year not to be missed!!

After all the over-indulgence of Christmas and New Year a day at the spa sounds just perfect – we have a spa day for two people at Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa to give away so you can do just that, turn to page 23 to see how you can win.

Along with all our regular features the January issue of Affinity is packed full of all you need to ensure you have a great start to 2014.

So from all of us here at Affinity, wherever you choose to celebrate the New Year be sure to have a fantastic time.

Happy New Year!

Jane x

As we leave 2013 behind and move into 2014 we all look at ourselves and our lives and decide on change.

We make resolutions about our life and wellbeing whether it be at work or at home. We show you some time saving tips that will maximise the feel good factor in your work life giving you more time to concentrate on your home life, turn to page 40 to see how.

Cover Image Marks & Spencer

Editor: Jane Fry jane@affinitymag.co.uk 01234 215523 07507 602401 Advertising Manager: Julia Crofts julia@affinitymag.co.uk 07966 696784 Graphic Design and Photography: David Zita dave@affinitymag.co.uk www.affinitymag.co.uk

facebook.com/AffinityMag

@affinitymagz

linkedin.com/pub/jane-zita-fry

All adverts are printed in good faith. Affinity cannot take responsibility for the content of adverts. Advertisements are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are accurate. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.Printed in the UK by Regal Litho 01908 270400

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CONTENTS 14 Skin fresh 20 Keeping on track 24 Treatment of the month

28 WIN! Celebrity boots 32 All about....

34 Victoria Beckham’s Tiara

42 The perfect pantry 46 Delightful dessert 51 Sophisticated slumber

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Learning to love possibilties Chunky knits for him Wooly and warm Decadent Danesfield House What’s on

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Ladies Night

Bubbles Butlers in the Buff Canapes Fun & Games Ultimate Still Life Male Drawing Raffle Goody Bag

Thursday 30th January 2014 7.30pm – Late

The Embankment, Bedford, MK40 3PD For Tickets please contact: Jane: 01234 215523 / 07507 602401 jane@affinitymag.co.uk

Tickets £30 per person

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C o

Do You Feel the

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A lovely hot chamomile flower and mustard foot bath, an old fashioned herbal remedy for anyone suffering from cold hands and feet, will be both warming and relaxing.

ow we are really in the depths of winter, I see many people suffering from cold hands and feet.

Poor peripheral circulation is a very common problem in our cold and damp climate. Various health problems may cause this, including anaemia, Reynaud’s, a weakening heart, chilblains, all of which need their own approach to improving circulation. We may be perfectly healthy but still be prone to feeling the cold; usually during the autumn and winter months, although some people feel the cold throughout the year. It may also be an inherited characteristic from a parent and, there is also no doubt, we do feel the cold more as we age.

Unfortunately, if we do really feel the cold we may suffer other problems, such as poor digestion, constipation and insomnia to mention a few.

Eat only warm food, which includes breakfast, rather than a cereal, fruit and cold meal to start the day. This will help to kick-start the metabolism and warm the body internally. Drink only hot drinks, including warm water.

Ginkgo Biloba, which can be taken in capsule form, is a great herb used in Chinese medicine to increase microcirculation to all the tiny capillaries and helps to improve general circulation.

A regular massage is also a great way to improve our circulation, particularly for anyone who is unable to exercise as often as they would like or for someone who is recovering from illness.

But the good news is, there are remedies readily available to improve our circulation and to help us feel warmer.

Another herb which is a traditional English remedy for improving circulation are the flowers and berries from Hawthorn which is so ubiquitous in the UK and to be found in just about every hedgerow. Taking these, with a little honey and cinnamon, is sure to get the circulation moving!

Eating freshly made root vegetable soups with some lentils and lots of herbs and spices, including cumin, coriander and fennel, will be far more helpful as a choice for lunch, rather than a sandwich from the chillercabinet.

Strong fresh ginger tea really warms the body and improves the circulation to both the hands and feet. It’s a great start to the day!

It is so important for our general health and wellbeing to keep as warm as possible over the long winter months and incorporating these suggestions will help to keep those hands and feet lovely and warm.

Use pungents such as cayenne pepper, horseradish and mustard as a condiment with food or in cooking.

Along with spicy foods, sour foods and fruits also naturally increase heat within the body.

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Carolyn Woods- Herbalist and Naturopath 07944 886502 www.vedatherapeutics.co.uk

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Skin Fresh

Scrub away tired dead cells with Affinity’s favourite exfoliators, revealing the inner beauty of your skin

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Elemis Fresh Skin Glow Exfoliating Face Wash Contains cherry powder and jojoba beans to gently polish and help refine skin texture. Extracts of mandarin and aniseed soften and condition to leave skin looking brighter and more radiant.

Compared to most exfoliators this face wash is incredibly gentle and kind to your skin £12 timetospa.co.uk / yspa.co.uk

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Boots No7 Total Renewal Micro-Dermabrasion Exfoliator With micro-fine particles of exfoliator, that gently lifts off dead cells to reveal skin that’s infinitely smoother, more luminous, and even-toned. A great pick-me-up for dull skin, improves glow and eliminates dead, dulling cells.

A luxury product without paying a luxury price. £11 Boots

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Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel This can double up as a peeling mask when layered on thickly and left for 10 minutes. It uses enzymes from pineapples and papayas to whisk away dulling debris and leave skin glowing, so it’s great for those who don’t like to scrub or are worried about scratching. £29.50 yspa.co.uk

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant This lathers with just a few drops of water into a creamy foam that contains skin-smoothing enzymes, hydroxy acids and super-fine granules of rice to dissolve dead cells and polish skin to perfection. A gentle action, super-soft texture and plant-based brightening ingredients (such as bearberry and liquorice) mean it’s perfect for more frequent use.

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Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser Salicylic, Lactic and Glycolic Acids – This trio of acids provides clarity, brightness and improves cell-turnover by dissolving dead skin cell build up and revealing a radiant complexion. Jojoba Beads – Gently polishes, exfoliates and smoothes skin while boosting hydration. £34 murad.co.uk / yspa.co.uk

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Qualified nurse since 2003

ÂŁ10 OFF

1st treatment or course

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Midlife Madness In Praise of the Personal Shopper!

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s I get a little bit older I keep discovering things that I can’t believe I have never known about before, and the latest of these discoveries is the personal shopper. Generally I love shopping, with the exception perhaps of the weekly groceries, but thankfully the internet has taken care of that, (though frankly why the nice folk that bring the shopping can’t just spend an extra half hour and put all the darned stuff away in my cupboards is beyond me!) and those awful weekend trips to DIY stores when my fella is embarking on a project it’s beside the point that said project will probably never be finished, in fact possibly not even started but that is a whole other issue that I won’t get into right now, but I imagine that a lot of you ladies know where I am coming from.

interested, well dressed and massively camp! Emilio, the shopper, was warm, welcoming and friendly so I was predisposed to like him, but then he brought wine AND chocolates so he rocketed up the scale to new best friend!!

We passed a pleasant few minutes, sipping wine, chatting about our event and the kind of look we wanted, and he came up with lots of helpful questions, which made us think in a bit more detail about some of the practicalities rather than just the overall idea of the look we were going for - then the real fun began. Dress after dress was brought, considered, tried on, taken off, and then put away by our diligent Emilio.

And it wasn’t just dresses, but shoes, accessories, even under wear. Should I be offended that he suggested I try one dress on with spanx!! I mean you have to be prepared for some personal questions and instructions “Darling what is going on with the whole bra situation here?” Hand gestures went with this but you have to imagine those for yourself. So what was wrong with my trusty M & S bra, okay, so it hadn’t perhaps washed as well as it might and was an odd grey colour, but I don’t go round showing it off to everyone! It must be said that I was standing there in my undies, with the stretch marks and roundedness that go with more than four decades living in my skin and giving birth to several children. The simple fact is that I find it hard to be offended by someone who keeps topping up my wine glass and offering me chocolates.

Anyway back to personal shopping. We have a family celebration on the horizon and my clever daughter thought it would be a good plan instead of just having a shopping trip if she booked an appointment for us in a big department store on Oxford Street with one of their personal shoppers. Well, all I can say is that my eyes have been well and truly opened. On what was probably one of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days this year, after standing 10 deep on the platform for the tube and waiting while 3 trains went past, before we could shoehorn ourselves into the sardine can carriage, then literally, having to push ourselves through the crowd, (thankfully it mostly seemed to be going in our desired direction, otherwise I am not sure what would have happened,) we arrived at the department store and the whole world changed.

So did we buy anything I hear you ask, well actually no, and no one seemed to mind very much? I just can’t believe I have never experienced shopping in this way before. But I can assure you it won’t be the last – I guess we will have to make sure we rotate department stores, but what is not to love about shopping in this sort of style. So after all those possibilities had been put before us, we did the only reasonable thing we could – discuss them all over some more wine!!

We went to the third floor and gave our names and that was it. For the next couple of hours we were treated like royalty. We were shown into a room with comfy seats, a coffee table and magazines, next to an enormous changing room with loads of mirrors and hooks and hanging space.

I’d like to say our personal shopper broke the mould – but you’ve guessed it, he was wonderfully attentive, 16

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memorable experience for each client through their exceptional service and professional excellence.

With over 12 years of combined experience our highly trained team are experts in helping you feel beautiful and look amazing.

With a wide variety of treatments available: • HD Eyebrows • Facials • Manicure & Pedicure • Massage • Threading • Eyelash extensions • Gel - Shellac nails • Makeup • Extensions • Waxing Why not let our experienced therapists ease away tension, relieve stress, restore and revitalise your body and mind.

Bridal Packages available

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Open 6 days a week

RAI Hair and Beauty Professionals 01234 910101 www.raihairandbeautyprofessionals.co.uk 124 Ampthill Road, Unit 3, Bedford MK42 9PP

RAI Hair and Beauty Professionals @rhbprofessional

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Keeping on Track This time of year is when we all make our New Years resolutions but sadly by the end of January the majority of us will have given up. Let this year be the year that you succeed!

Health and fitness goals are often at the forefront of people’s minds this time of year - the Christmas excess has caught up and we all want to feel healthier for the coming year. Check out my ideas on how you can stay focused with your individual goals.

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Keep your food on track A lot of people I train with find this the hardest part of any weight loss or fat loss plan. Time, energy and organisation is required to make sure each meal you eat is healthy and nutritious which can become hard work. This is where Soulmate Food steps in.

Keep your food on track A lot of people I train with find this the hardest part of any weight loss or fat loss plan. Time, energy and organisation is required to make sure each meal you eat is healthy and nutritious which can become hard work. This is where Soulmate Food steps in.

Soulmate Food is a food delivery service that offers a variety of packages ranging from weight loss, low carb to Sports kitchen. They deliver your breakfast, lunch, evening meal and 2 day time snacks and protein shakes to your house or work place twice a week. The food is restaurant standard and is tailored to you and your dietary requirements (including any intolerances and allergies). The menus they have are really delicious and are made with the highest quality of food. I can highly recommend them. Also check out their 3 day Juicing Cleanse - a fantastic way to ‘kick-start’ the New Year.

Keep your non-smoking on track I admire people who have chosen to give up smoking. I can’t imagine how tough it must be to stop such an addictive habit. There are so many great services available now to help; The NHS offer a free quit kit, simply visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk there is also a smoking cost calculator online where you can work out how much money you would save if you quit smoking.

A common way people chose to quit smoking is with hypnotherapy.

Keep your exercise on track Being a personal trainer I am obviously biased towards using a trainer to help you keep your exercise on track because I see on a daily basis how much impact we can have on someone’s health and weight. A personal trainer will keep you motivated during your sessions and will ensure you’re doing all the right things to get to your goal but I think it’s the fact that you have someone else who is accountable for your results that helps people stay more focused.

Personal training needn’t be expensive, many trainers now offer group sessions or programs you can follow at home. Visit www.hollfitness.co.uk for more information.

Keep your work - life balance on track For me this is my New Years resolution. Trying to find a balance between your work and your home life is a tricky one. 30 years ago the idea of a 60 hour working week was a ludicrous suggestion but now unfortunately it has become the ‘norm’.

Then we try and squeeze, family, friends, leisure activities and sleep into what’s left then wonder why we are tired and grumpy. A great way to manage your work - life balance is to get a better grip on your time management. Bedford College are running a 1 day ‘time management course’ on 21st January 2014 at The Park Inn. What a great way to start the year knowing how to manage your time and to identify ‘time stealers’. Visit www.bedford.ac.uk for more information.

Julie Holl

Personal Trainer

www.hollfitness.co.uk

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Five of the Best Ways to Beat the Bloat With all the over indulgence Christmas and the inevetible eating, drinking and parties bring it’s now time to tackle those tummy troubles with a natural solution. e’lifexir Flat Tummy Plus® This handy prebiotic contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are soluble fibres naturally found in fruits, vegetables and cereals.

The FOS are not absorbed by the body and therefore reach the intestines unchanged. Here they are fermented by the good bacteria in the gut, which then multiply and flourish to help ease bloatedness and a bulging belly. The addition of peppermint oil will also leave breath smelling fresh, allowing you to look, feel and smell great! E’lifexir Flat Tummy plus® costs £9.99 for a month’s supply Holland & Barrett

Quest’s TumBiotix This specialist probiotic helps support the balance of micro flora in your gut and promotes natural bowel habits.

Each capsule contains a specialist probiotic combination of L.acidophilus and L. plantarum which encourages good digestive health and helps to alleviate problems associated with poor gut health. Each capsule is in a DR format which delays the release of probiotic bacteria until it can be most effectively absorbed. The DRcaps™ protect the probiotics from the acidity of the stomach, only releasing the formula once it has reached the intestine where it is most easily absorbed. £9.69 for a month’s supply, Holland & Barrett Quest’s Mega 8 Biotix Mega 8 Biotix contains 8 bacteria strains, including L.acidophilus, 30 billion live organisms and can help to restore the positive balance of "friendly" bacteria in the intestine.

Mega 8 Biotix are in a DR capsule format which delays the release of probiotic bacteria until it can be most effectively absorbed. The DRcaps™ protect the probiotics from the acidity of the stomach, only releasing the formula once it has reached the intestine where it is most easily absorbed. £18.99 for 30 tablets, All good health shops

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Nature’s Plus GI Natural Don’t let over indulgence ruin your day. GI Natural is designed to support the structure of the digestive system and improve the way that the body absorbs nutrients. Composed of a slow and fast release layer, each tablet contains L-Glutamine to repair and boost the stomach lining, Vitamin E and Selenium to combat free radicals and enzyme-rich whole foods to promote healthy digestion and absorption. Banish that sluggish feeling and get on with your day. £23.75 for a month’s supply, www.revital.co.uk 9bar Flax If you are looking for a tasty and healthy way to promote good digestion, look no further than the 9bar Flax. Packed with luscious flax seeds and topped with delicious carob, the 9bar Flax is the perfect way to fuel your day. Flax seeds really are nature’s digestive remedy, containing a high amount of dietary fibre which helps stabilise blood sugar, promotes healthy digestion and lowers cholesterol. The high protein content also means that you will be left feeling fuller for longer and able to face the day full of energy.

70p - £1.89 All good supermarkets

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WIN! WIN! WIN!

A RELAXATION DAY FOR TWO PEOPLE The award-winning 4* Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa in Northamptonshire, is offering you the chance to win the perfect spa getaway – ‘A Relaxation Day for Two People.’

Set in rural Northamptonshire, this deluxe hotel boasts 213 bedrooms, 4 restaurants, one of which holds 2AA Rosettes for gourmet excellence, and The Day Spa, one of the largest Spas in the country with facilities including 23 treatments rooms, Heat and Ice Experiences, and a Hydrotherapy Pool. There is also The Leisure Club which includes a 19-metre pool, whirlpool spa and state of the art gym.

Your prize includes…

• Two-course buffet lunch • Full use of the Heat and Ice Experiences • Full use of The Day Spa and The Leisure Club facilities To be in with a chance of winning tell us : How many bedrooms does Whittlebury Hall Hotel have? and send your answers to info@affinitymag.co.uk

Readers Offer

Terms and conditions: *Full terms and conditions apply. This prize is nontransferable and non-refundable, and has no cash equivalent. This prize cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. The prize is available Sunday-Thursday only, excludes Christmas, New Year’s and Valentines periods and is subject to availability. Winners must be aged 18 years or over. This competition is not open to the employees of Whittlebury Hall or their family members. Prize to be booked and taken by 31st March 2014

If you’re not lucky enough to win this fabulous prize, Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa, is presenting you with a simply indulgent offer - Buy a One Night Stay for just £86.50 per person and receive COMPLIMENTARY use of The Day Spa Heat and Ice Experiences (worth £29) The One Night Stay package allows you to enjoy full use of The Leisure Club facilities, a three-course dinner in Astons Restaurant, overnight stay and full English

breakfast. And if that isn’t tempting enough, complimentary use of The Day Spa Heat and Ice Experiences provides the perfect treat for some wellearned pampering.

To take advantage of this amazing offer, call today and quote ‘AFFIN4’ on 0845 400 0002 www.whittleburyhall.co.uk

*Terms and Conditions apply. Subject to availability. This offer is available Sunday - Thursday only. This offer is non-transferable and nonrefundable, has no cash equivalent and full prepayment is required at time of booking. Offer applies to new purchases only. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Guests must be aged 18 years or over. This offer is not open to the employees of Whittlebury Hall and their family members. Accommodation is based on 2 people sharing a standard room. Offer includes a complimentary use of the Heat and Ice Experiences per person when purchasing a 1 Night Stay for £86.50 per person. Heat and Ice Experiences to be taken on day of arrival. £40 single supplement applies. Offer valid for bookings made and taken by 31st March

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Treatment of the Month Revive Signature Ritual

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ith all the Christmas Parties, socialising, family get together’s as well as magazine deadlines, I was in need of some ME time and so decided to visit The Revive Company based in Wixams (the outskirts of Bedford) for some serious pampering with their Revive Signature Ritual - a combination of an advanced facial combined with a deep tissue massage As soon as I arrived I was made to feel at ease and relaxed straight away by Kerry, who is the proprietor of The Revive Company. She led me to her treatment room which created just the right ambience with its’ dim lighting and scented candles - a real haven of peace and tranquillity.

My Signature ritual started with a body brush followed by a deep tissue massage using Elemis Frangipani oil; the experience was truly relaxing. This massage claims to untangle knots and release chronic muscle tension to help you relax and iron out the stresses of life from mind, body and soul and that’s exactly what it did, I felt completely rejuvenated and revitalised.

Next came my facial. The Revive Company Facials are developed to suit your skin's individual needs. Every facial begins with a detailed skin analysis, followed by double cleansing, deep exfoliating, a stimulating massage

using a variety of techniques to lift and firm, then a potent treatment mask is applied whilst a therapeutic scalp massage is performed. Finishing with a skin specific moisturiser and eye cream. We agreed on the anti-ageing facial for my skin and I have to say it is one of the best facials I have experienced, again Elemis products were used and afterwards my skin felt plumper, was glowing and radiant.

The whole pampering experience took just over two hours and I felt as if I had been well and truly taken away from the stress and busyness of everyday life and transferred into another world. I would highly recommend the Revive Signature Ritual to anyone who needs a little time to recharge their batteries and feel rejuvenated again.

This treatment is also great value for money at £68, so there’s no excuse not to give yourself that little bit of time out and pay a visit to The Revive Company - I know I’ll be going back again!

The Revive Company 07908625968 www.therevivecompany.com

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VitHit Vitamin Drink £1.49 Tesco

1957 Chevrolet Framed Print £74 www.alan@kingsclassics.com

Patent Bag £65 Wallis

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2011 £24 Harrods

Crabtree & Evelyn La Source 60s Fix Kit £24 www.crabtree-evelyn.co.uk

Red Herring Cherry Shoes £38 Debenhams

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Guerlain KissKiss Gloss £21 House of Fraser

Cow Hide Bean Cube £70 Next

Clarins Eyebrow Kit "Pro" Palette £33 John Lewis

The Mighty Purse with Built in Phone Charger £85 www.cuckooland.com

AFFINITY HOT PICKS

Ferrari Scuderia EDT £19 Debenhams, Bedford

Hotel Chocolat The New Arrival Collection £37 www.hotelchocolat.com

Red Herring Wonderwoman T-Shirt £18 Debenhams

Rockface Shave Butter £4.99 Waitrose/Tesco

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A New Year, A New You with

DUKAN

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After a season of wining and dining, January 1st will see most people resolve to lead a healthier, perhaps slimmer lifestyle.

Losing weight and changing your eating habits can be a daunting task so here to help is Dr Pierre Dukan's programme and recipe ideas to help you through those first 7 days of 2014.

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ake a one-HOUR walk on New Year’s Day – and repeat, as often as you can. If you find it too long, you may cut it down, but anything less than 20 minutes, will make slimming very difficult.

Forget alcohol for 7 days. Not even a drop should pass your lips for the entire week, even at the expense of holiday toasts and other festivities. Raise a glass of Perrier, diet cola or a healthy smoothie (see recipe below) instead!

Go food shopping! It’s very important to ensure you have all the right foods in your cupboard and fridge to avoid temptation and stave any cravings. Dukan has launched its very own range of food products from breakfast bars and cereals to cocoa powder, flavourings and oatbran.

Shirataki Noodles are Dukan’s latest discovery; 0% sugar, 0% fat and 0% gluten, these unique noodles are made from the Japanese Konjac root. Konjac is a root that has been used in traditional Japanese cuisine for over 2,000 years. It can be eaten raw or processed into various forms such as noodles. Shirataki Noodles can be boiled or stirfried; they are a fantastic alternative to pasta, rice or noodles and can be served with any choice of sauce.

They’re also a ‘no limit’ food on the Dukan Diet.

Continue or start taking vitamin C. One gram per day, or more if you’re exposed to the flu, will give you enough energy to face the cold and darkness of winter without caving in to cravings for comfort food.

Sleep more, weigh less. Science has proven that too little sleep or poor sleep contributes to weight gain and that restorative slumber suppresses the urge to eat. Premidnight sleep is doubly effective. Try to get to bed early – before 10:30 p.m. if possible – at least twice a week.

Try Cider vinegar with every meal. Cider vinegar is one of those traditional remedies whose beneficial properties have been scientifically confirmed. Take two tablespoonfuls before you eat lunch and dinner, it helps break down proteins and works like a detergent on fats without touching any sugars, which simply means it helps you lose weight. For anyone with a sensitive stomach, it can be obtained as a de-acidified food supplement from chemists.

Don’t forget oatbran! Oat bran is rich in sugars and protein, but its benefit lies in the high levels of soluble fibre, which absorbs water in the gut, swelling up to 20 times its size. This helps you feel full and satisfied. Once digested, it attracts fat molecules, sugars and toxins, and carries them out of the body before they can be absorbed into the bloodstream (see recipe for quick and easy oatbran galette and sweet tea loaf below).

Snack if you need to – just don’t go hungry! As well as your main meals do have snacks if peckish – go for protein options like prawns, low-fat natural yogurt or turkey slices (see below for list of allowed treats).

On 2nd January get back on track with pure proteins.

Eat approved Dukan foods only that day, chicken, turkey or beef (except rib steak), any kind of fish or seafood, eggs and low-fat dairy, vegetable proteins (Tofu, Seitan) and make sure to drink at least two litres of water. Remember you can eat as much as you want of these approved foods, there is no calorie counting or weighing scales required on the Dukan Diet, so you need never feel hungry.

If you have weight to lose, get support and join www.dukandiet.co.uk. The Dukan Diet appreciates everyone is different, with different body shapes, different goals and individual tastes to account for. There is no ‘one-diet-fits-all’, but with dukandiet.co.uk you can create a personalised plan, which works for you.

Starting 3rd January add non-starchy vegetables to your diet. Focus on detoxifying foods in particular, such as artichoke, lamb’s lettuce, tomatoes, fennel, black radish and rhubarb. Eat these foods raw or cooked, in soups or purées (see below for a warming soup recipe). For the next 5 days alternate between pure protein only and pure protein and vegetable days.

Readers Offer!

To kickstart your 2014 healthy lifestyle the Dukan Diet is offering Affinity readers 15% off online coaching and food products from 27th December 2013 to 15th January 2014. Simply log on and quote NEWYOU15 for online coaching and NEWYOUSHOP15 to receive 15% off minimum orders of £35.

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WIN! WIN! WIN! W

inter’s well and truly here and we have found the most fabulous range of boots from Sorel Footwear. Not only are they on trend and the fashion accessory of the moment they come in a range of styles – and a firm favourite amongst celebrities such as Elle Macpherson, Katie Holmes, Kate Hudson and Blake Lively.

We have teamed up with Sorel to give away a pair of their Joan of Artic Wedge Ankle Boots worth £165 to a lucky Affinity Reader, to be in with a chance of winning name ‘One of the celebrities spotted wearing Sorel Boots’ and send to info@affinitymag.co.uk by 22nd January 2014

Elle Mcpherson wearing Joan of Artic Boots

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Darla Boots £80 Lands End

Pandora £125 Bertie

Chipahko Felt Boot £175 Sorelfootwear

Sexy and Snug

Glacy Boot £100 sorelfootwear

Glacy Explorer Boot £130 Sorelfootwear Eloise Boot £90 Fat Face

Joan of Artic Boots £160 Sorelfootwear.co.uk

Router £139 Dune

Caribou Boots £155 Sorelfootwear Tofino Boot £160 Sorelfootwear

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Boots £99 Marks & Spencer

Conquest Carly Boots £210 Sorelfootwear.co.uk

Gillie Boots £289 Hobbs

Boots and Beautiful

Moc Croc Boots £60 Next

Serengeti Boots £375 reallywildclothing.co.uk

Jasper Conran Boots £130 Debenhams Suede Boots £120 Lands End

Tanka £159 Dune Trish Brown £139 Dune

Rowan £125 Dune Trilbury Boot £149 Dune

Tinder £149 Bertie

Tatler £139 Bertie Tyro £149 Bertie

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Ankle Boot £38 Bank Fashion

Studded Boot £45 Marks & Spencer

Ankle Boots £80 Office

Rainstorm £95 Bertie Red Herring Boots £55 Debenhams

Blue Suede Boot £24 Tesco

Absolute Ankles Faux Fur Ankle Boots £75 Next

Boots (Faith) £80 Debenhams Leopard Boots £69 Marks & Spencer

Boots £45 Office

Purple Boots (Faith) £55 Debenhams Olivia £70 FatFace

Pan £125 Dune

Chelsea Boots £55 Next

Patent Boot Matalan

Red Herring £55 Debenhams Ribbon Point Boot £38 Bank Fashion

Affinity January2014 1.qxp_Jan 2014 Aff 12/12/2013 20:15 Page 30

All About

Name: Amy Louise Hall Age: 27 Occupation: Florist/ Director of April Flowers Clapham

Describe yourself in three words?

Creative, Blonde, Delicious, ha!

You can’t leave the house without?

My handbag

Your top three movies?

Dirty Dancing (love!) Batman:The Dark Knight and Hitch

If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them?

I would like to meet Alan Car... no explanation needed!

Ha!

If I take a look in your fridge what would I find?

Chocolate and wine... accompanied by some food!

What makes you stand out in a crowd?

My smile!

What do you do to relax?

Have a bubbly bath... or a cheeky glass of wine!

If you were a biscuit what would you be?

Party Ring, whoop!

Your most extravagant purchase and why?

My business because I love my job ... sad!

Who is your inspiration/role model?

My little boy... inspiration in one!

If you could be anyone or anything what would it be?

A fly on the wall...

What is the one gadget you couldn't live without?

My mobile... even though I am rubbish at returning calls!

Describe your ideal man?

Sorry haven’t met him yet

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

We will be the best florist in the region with an even bigger team of young skilled florists... with a little bit more time off for a holiday!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you? bikini, sun cream and food What would you do if you had a time machine?

Go back in time lol

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Victoria Beckham Fairytale Wedding Tiara Set to Sparkle at Bonhams

T

Chanel, Versace and John Galliano are among his notable collaborations, while famous faces such as Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Cara Delevingne are pictured in Barrett's awe-inspiring crafted jewellery pieces, on and off the catwalk. A revival in the trend of the tiara can be attributed to the Slim Barrett name, which has gained followers from the fashion capitals of Europe to the superstars of Hollywood.

he 'fairytale' gold and diamond crown tiara worn

by Victoria Adams for her marriage to David Beckham, made by acclaimed jewellery designer Slim Barrett, was sold in the Fine Jewellery sale at Bonhams, New Bond Street on 5th December.

The tiara, entitled East of Paris, is valued at £18,000£25,000 and is crafted from 18-carat latticed yellow gold, set with large brilliant-cut diamonds and suspended diamond drops. The Victoria and Albert Museum exhibited the work in 100 Tiaras, Past and Present and it was included in the prestigious Diamond Divas exhibition at The Diamond Museum in Antwerp.

Recently, Barrett has worked with performers such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga creating experimental, cutting edge pieces which reveal his background in sculpture and fine art. Slim Barrett's work is held in the permanent collection of The Victoria and Albert Museum and recently featured in the museum's Club to Catwalk exhibition.

"Inspiration for 'East of Paris' came from my love of Eastern design and Parisian haute couture" artist Slim Barrett commented, "...so I set out to fuse the two styles."

Barrett's work was first spotted by a notable lady jewellery collector who frequented the same coffee shop as the young artist and his wife. The collector was so taken with the necklace around Jules Barrett's neck that she commissioned a piece of her own. Soon after this Slim Barrett's jewellery appeared in the famous London department store, Liberty, and the brand was forged.

Slim Barrett, Irish born jewellery artist and master metalworker, is the man behind countless couture creations made for the pages of fashion magazines and catwalk shows since the 1980s, as well as designing jewellery for Princess Diana and Mick Jagger.

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Affinity

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Charity Ball Diamond & Pearl

We had a fantastic night at our Annual Charity Ball held at The Sharnbrook Hotel and in memory of our dear friend Pat McGirl and in aid of Keech Hospice Care.

Guests were entertained by magic from Lewis Magic, tried their hand at the casino tables supplied by Le Grand Fun Casino and danced the night away to the sounds of the fabulous “Vision�.

Special Thanks to April Flowers, Mercedes Benz of Bedford, Booth Barmy Photobooths, Russell Beard, Yspa, Regal Litho and Hotel Chocolat.

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Work That

Feel Good Factor New Year, New You we all make resolutions about our life and wellbeing whether it be at work or at home – We show you some time saving tips that will maximise the feel good factor in your work life.

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Create More Time – Really? Yes!

Time is the most precious resource in your nine-five, so can you get more without working through your lunch hour? Yes you can!

Stop thinking you can multitask By switching our attention between tasks we lose up to a quarter of our day. A recent survey found it took 15 minutes to get back on track and refocus after an interruption, every disruption results in our mind becoming distracted from the task in hand which can add up to 25 per cent of our total work time. Realistically it’s impossible to stop all interruptions, so you need to schedule a specific time to check emails and messages – mentally put up a ‘do not disturb’ sign and get on with the task in hand without becoming distracted or allowing for unnecessary interruptions.

Find your peak performance time We all have ‘peak performance’ times – get yours right and you’ll grab back valuable time individually and as a team. The best time to memorise notes for a meeting/presentation is between 8am and 10am, whereas willingness and availability for meetings peak at 3pm making it the ideal time to get things done with colleagues.

Don’t over schedule Most of us borrow time from one activity to pay another back thus causing overscheduling, which then results in ‘time debt’. To avoid this give yourself fifteen – thirty minutes between appointments to allow for inevitable interruptions. In the long run this will save you time as you won’t have to rearrange meetings etc., as well as having that extra bit of time if tasks do overrun.

Learn to postpone We lose time because we try to handle multiple projects at the same time; the solution to this is to replace ‘Now’ with ‘When’. Thus asking the question ‘When can we meet?’ or ‘When is the latest you need this?’

By doing this it allows you to prioritise your day and work out how much time you have, so that when you’re going through your emails or pile of paperwork, you can schedule into your diary any non-urgent tasks that will take longer than 5 minutes to complete, rather than doing it straight away. By doing this you’ll open up time in your working day for projects that need to be done straight away.

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H Pantry.

idden in the heart of the bustling Castle Quay area, alongside the Great River Ouse in Bedford is a real foodies dream The Higgins

A unique combination of a cafĂŠ and restaurant The Pantry offers everything from fresh coffee, pots of tea and homemade cakes to fresh light lunches and evening dining, all in the relaxed informal restaurant.

The Higgins Pantry is family run by Vince and Rosanna who, as a result of a life long passion and enthusiasm for food, wanted to share it and thus they set about creating an informal and unique menu and setting to do just this in; a place that people would want to frequent whether it be for a cup of tea and fresh cake, a lunchtime bite or an evening meal.

The menu places a high emphasise on delicious Italian cuisine where only quality fresh ingredients are used creating delicious food everytime - the Italian style tapas is an absolute tasting must!

Why not enjoy your food with a glass of wine or bottle of beer and, in the summer months, you can watch the world go by from the enclosed courtyard terrace.

Live music can be found on most Saturday nights adding to the whole ambience of the evening (check the website to keep up to date.) These nights prove extremely popular so booking is highly recommended All dishes are very reasonably priced allowing a family meal out to not break the bank, the atmosphere is relaxed and is ideal for any time of the day.

Open day and evening (except Monday) The Higgins Pantry is well worth a visit, you will keep returning I guarantee it.

The Higgins Pantry Castle Lane Bedford MK40 3XD 01234 276340 www.thehigginspantry.co.uk

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Turkey, sausage and squash casserole 44

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“

“

A more sophisticated and enticing dish than turkey curry, this casserole recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover Christmas turkey

Ingredients

400g (about 6) Toulouse sausages 200g thick-cut smoked bacon lardoons 750g butternut squash, peeled and cut into small wedges 1 large onion, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 500g leftover cooked turkey, thickly shredded 2 x 400g tins of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 200ml white wine Large bunch of fresh thyme, leaves picked 600ml chicken stock, hot 3 tbsp olive oil 4 tbsp crème fraîche Large handful of fresh flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped

Method Heat 1 tbsp of the oil over a medium-high heat in a large casserole dish and cook the sausages for 8 minutes until browned all over. Remove, chop into large pieces, and set aside in a bowl.

Add the bacon lardons, cook until crisp, then add to the sausage bowl. Add the onion to the pan with the remaining oil, lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes, adding the garlic for the final 2 minutes. Remove the onion and garlic and add to the sausages and bacon.

Add the squash wedges to the casserole and fry for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, then pour over the wine and simmer until reduced by half.

Return the sausages, bacon and onion to the casserole, stir in the turkey and thyme. Season well and add the stock. Bring to the boil, cover, turn down the heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes.

Add the beans and cook for a further 10 minutes, stir in the crème fraîche and parsley and serve.

Chateau Les Sablines Monbazillac A rich Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend with a rich purity of honey and citrus flavours. A fine match for sweet puddings. £8.99 Waitrose

Foncaussade Rose Half Cabernet, half Merlot blend with lovely bright berry flavours. Extremely versatile with cold food though it will match well with pasta in a sauce too. £7.99 Waitrose

Grande Reserve de Bergerac Sauvignon Blanc Fresh lemony flavours with honeysuckle softness. This well balanced crisp and aromatic dry white is a classic pairing with delicate white fish, particularly seabass and salmon. £8.99 Sainsburys

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Mixed Berry Creme Brulee Ingredients

6 x Egg Yolks 1 pint of Double Cream 2oz Caster Sugar 1 x Vanilla Pod 50g Strawberries (quartered) 50g Raspberries 50g Blueberries/Redcurrants (or alternatively a bag of frozen mixed berries is as good) Serves 8

This sweet is brought to you by the Chef at The Millhouse Hotel Riverside Restaurant, Sharnbrook, Beds

Method

Heat the oven to 180c Put all of the berries into a saucepan with a little sugar (not the 2oz for the recipe) And just bring to the boil and simmer for 2 minutes.

Leave this aside and start on the crème anglais.

Put the egg yolks and sugar into a bowl, big enough for the cream to be added later on.

Whisk these together and also put aside.

Put the cream in a saucepan with the vanilla pod (scraped out) and bring to the boil.

When boiling, add the cream to the egg mix, (Stir, DONT WHISK) then put back in the pan and return to the heat.

Keep stirring until thick Get a large, deep dish/tray and place 8 ramekins in the bottom.

Put a tablespoon of the berry mix and juice in the bottom of each ramekin then fill to the top with the cream mix.

Then proceed to fill the dish/tray with water to half way up the ramekins and place in the oven for 1 hour or until set and finger can be pressed on top and pulled away clean.

Leave on the side for 10 minutes before putting in the fridge to cool.

To serve, sprinkle the top with caster sugar and glaze with blow torch or under the grill.

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Veda Therapeutics Carolyn wood Herbal Medicine - Ayuverda Naturopathy - Therapeutic Massage - Ear Acupuncture

Herbalist (Dip Herb) Naturopath (Dip ND) MAMH, MANP, ITEC

As a herbalist and naturopath I can help you with

Our 2nd Anniversary!

Friday 31st January Karl and Olivia are celebrating their 2nd anniversary of owning the Millhouse and want to invite you to dinner, with entertainment from The Caverners.

Call for info.

Next Pudding Night

Friday 24th January Only £15.00 for a main course and unlimited puds!

Valentines Day

Friday 14th February Only £25.00 per person for a delicious 3 course meal to celebrate that love is in the air.

Reduced room rates are available with dinner bookings, please contact for more information

Traditional Afternoon Teas

Afternoon tea by the river, every day between 2pm and 5pm.

(Booking is essential) *Remember we are still doing “Buy 1 get 1 free” on main courses every Tuesday all day, 12pm- 9pm!*

01234 781678 info@millhouse-riverside.co.uk www.millhouse-riverside.co.uk millhouse_hotel Millhouse Hotel and Riverside Restaurant Mill Road, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1NP

• Immunity • Skin Conditions • Digestive Complaints • Hormonal imbalances • Heart health & Circulation • Energy & Wellbeing • Insomnia • Depression • Other chronic health conditions • Acute coughs & colds

07944 886502 carolyn612@btinternet.com www.vedatherapeutics.co.uk

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A visit to

VesuviO 48

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V

esuviO’s restaurant is open within The Sharnbrook Hotel, on the outskirts of Bedford, with its relaxed informal atmosphere it is ideal for dining with family, friends or a loved one, whether it’s lunch or dinner you won’t be disappointed.

The menu is mainly Italian based, but for those that don’t like Italian food there is still plenty of choice.

VesuviO pride themselves in also offering a gluten free menu that, amongst other dishes, includes pizza and pasta!

We arrived with our friends on a cold wintery night and were greeted by our friendly waitress who gave us the option of having a drink at the bar or going straight to our table.

Whilst we were making our choices from the extensive and descriptive menu we enjoyed some brushetta and olives.

Choices were made and included Whitebait which was full of flavour and cooked perfectly, Seafood Salad which certainly didn’t disappoint, Mozzarella Carozza, the mozzarella covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried melted in the mouth and the Napolitano sauce that accompanied it was pure authentic Italian.

After just the right amount of time our friendly helpful waitress served our mains, which again looked and tasted utterly delicious and included Abbacchio di Agnello – Lamb chops that were succulent and cooked exactly as requested served with lyonnaise potatoes and green beans, with a white wine and salsa verde which proved to be the perfect accompaniment.

Salmon Al Forno was my choice, oven baked fillet of salmon over a bed of asparagus tips in a garlic butter and white wine sauce, the salmon was tender and flavoursome and certainly tantalised my taste buds.

Gluten Free Spaghetti Aglio with garlic, olive oil and chilli had a slight kick to it and the Penne Arrabiata flavours were superb.

We really couldn’t eat dessert after all that could we???

Well we waited just long enough for a little space to appear and were tempted by the Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake, Banoffi pie, Zeppola di San Giuseppe and a very refreshing Lemon Bomb. The chocolate swirl cheesecake was a chocolate lovers dream, the banoffi was delectably delicious, the traditional Neapolitan doughnut ring filled with rum and lemon cream and topped with rum and raisin ice cream (Zeppola di San Giuseppe) was a pure indulgence.

Coffee and liquors finished off a great dining experience where all our palates were satisfied and we were all checking our diaries for when we were free to come back again.

VesuviO Restaurant Park Lane Sharnbrook Beds 01234 783142 www.thesharnbrookhotel.com

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54a, Caves Lane, Bedford, MK40 3GN

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Sophisticated Slumber

Debenhams

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Heart Candle Tray £20 Next

Bedside Chest £225 Next

Heyland and Whittle Olive and Fig Candle £22 John Lewis

Floor Lamp £200 Next

Cushion Julien Macdonald £30 Debenhams

Jewellery Box £38 Debenhams

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Star Cushion £32 Debenhams Leora Stool £329 Marks & Spencer

Sculpture £60 Next

Julien Macdonald Votives £15 Debenhams

Star Frame £30 Debenhams Metal Leaf Vase £35 Next

Leora Chest £1199 Marks & Spencer

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JANUARY SALE

NOW ON!

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MOVIE MAGIC A new website has launched specialising in original film posters from the 1950’s to 1980’s. The posters are truly rare, iconic and highly sought after by collectors and perfect gifts for those hard-tobuy-for people and we love them.

Orson & Welles www.orsonandwelles.co.uk 07802 621299 Cinderella Original Film Poster £350

Star Wars Original Film Poster £5000

Italian Job Original Film Poster £2000 Pale Rider Original Film Poster £1000

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Blade Runner Original Film Poster £500

For Your Eyes Only Original Poster £200

Bullitt Original Film Poster £300

The Prisoner of Zenda Original Poster £300

The Magnificent Seven Film Poster £400

Jungle Book Original Poster £1200

Yellow Submarine Original Poster £600

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Learning to Love

Possibilities

O

ne of the reasons many people enjoy the beginning of the year is all the possibilities that lie ahead.

Like newly fallen snow, the year stretches ahead, waiting for our imprint. Maybe this is the year I will get that new job, start my own business, fall head over heels in love, win the lottery, take that holiday I’ve been dreaming of or move home.

to write your memoirs, make jam, do a marathon or trek the Great Wall of China! It is absolutely up to you BUT remember there may be lots of things you want to do in our life, but this is about what is the biggest priority for the next year.

Write it down and then leave it a couple of days and look at it again – is that really the most important priority for the next year. If it still feels like it is, then you have established your goal.

The details may vary from person to person but almost always there is a sense of hope and optimism. This lasts for a while, like the New Year’s resolutions, but the sense of hope in possibilities melts away, just like snow when the sun shines.

The next step is to think out what you need to do to achieve that? This will give you a set of other tasks to achieve – and with these smaller ‘tasks’ it is often good They don’t have to of course, but very often life to add a realistic time scale. So if your main gets in the way. Quite simply we get busy. priority is learning to speak Mandarin the Busy with work, busy with family life, first step will be to research where there Time is free, but busy with friends or study, busy caring are courses you can enrol on, then it's priceless. You can't for relatives or maybe even busy perhaps to save the money to pay for feeling frustrated that life isn’t going them. Be realistic about both the tasks own it, but you can use it. the way we want. and the timescales. Like any target it You can't keep it, needs to be achievable, setting but you can spend it.

In essence we think we don’t have something that is almost impossible Once you've lost it the time to do the things we want to will simply demotivate you. you can never get it back. do.

Harvey Mackay, author Manage your time and stress Time It is important, whatever your priority, that How many times do we catch ourselves you find time to look after yourself by fitting in saying ‘if only we had the time’, we’d study, be exercise, some time to relax and having quality time creative, look after ourselves more, spend more time with with friends and loved ones, these are imperatives. friends or family…....If only! Perhaps we look at others and Motivation will definitely fade if you become over-tired marvel at how they seem to fit in work, friends, family and or stressed. A lot of people find it hard to acknowledge study and still find time to get to the gym or make their what stress is or hard to gauge when they are under too own cupcakes. But often it is all about what we decide are much stress. One way of thinking about it is to imagine our priorities. holding a bag of potatoes, it wouldn’t make you too tired at first but if you had to carry it with you all the time, Deciding what is important whatever you were doing, it would exhaust you How often in any day do you spend time doing things that eventually. you would say aren’t very important – yet you are giving your precious time to them. Sometimes it is because you Make sure you build in times to put down the things that feel it is a responsibility, maybe going for a drink after stress you. work because you feel you ‘ought’ to, or sometimes even because it’s easier than making a positive decision to do We all know there are 24 hours in each day and 7 days in what YOU want to do – watching TV for instance (not that each week yet so often it is hard for us to actually account there is anything wrong with that) when you could have for where our time goes. If we are honest with ourselves been exercising, painting, studying but somehow it is it is actually only us who can decide how we use each one easier to go with the flow. of those minutes. Of course there are demands on our time, jobs and responsibilities, but there are also times It is unlikely however that there will ever come a day, save when we simply let the minutes drift by – and that is fine, through illness or redundancy that a whole new package but often the people who achieve the things they really of time will arrive on your doorstep! So the only way you want to are those who learn to harness those minutes to will fit in the things that you think are important will be do the things that are important and in the long run will to MAKE the time. make them happy.

First be honest with yourself about what you really think is important. Take a bit of time over this and decide what the most important thing is for you to achieve in the next year, perhaps gain a new qualification, get a new job, start 61

For more information on how to start living the life you want contact attuned education on 07921193479 email info@attunededucation.com or visit www.attunededucation.com

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Fry’s Footie Corner S

MATCH FIXING

ince the match fixing revelations came to light, people have been contacting me to ask if I had been involved or were aware of any of these allegations. Funnily enough, the only experience that I have had was when I was manager of Birmingham City Football Club. After training one day, my goalkeeper Ian Bennett literally chased me back to my office at St. Andrews.

lives up for greed. That is what it is, greed! They don’t need the money, they shouldn’t be able to get away with what has happened if the cases are proved. It really is terrible.

The one positive, and I always look for a positive, to come out of this is that it is a massive deterrent for the younger players.

If these cases are proved, the contracts of these players will be ripped up and they will never play professional football again. Let’s hope that the young players understand what can happen.

He was in turmoil because he had been approached by two Asian gentlemen after training offering him £10,000 to lose the next match. Our next fixture was away to Liverpool in an FA Cup replay. We had drawn the first tie 0-0 and Ian Bennett was outstanding, as indeed the whole team was.

There are rules and regulations in football, we all have to abide by those rules. The players are aware of their responsibilities and it is stressed to them at the start of every campaign. They know what they can and cannot bet on, but certainly what has been in the papers has shocked me and I really hope that is an end of the revelations.

When he told me this revelation, my reply was ‘I hope you took the money because we will lose the game anyway’ (as a joke). He was clearly upset and badly shaken by the experience. Ian is the most genuine and ethical person that I have ever met and I told him not to worry about what had happened. I told him I would let the board of directors know what occurred and told him to carry on as normal.

Ironically, ‘Benno’ played out of his skin at Anfield, as did his team-mates, and we drew 1-1 after extra-time. This meant there was a penalty shoot-out. We lost the penalty shoot out 4-0. In the press conference afterwards, the media complimented us on our display in the first game and in the 120 minutes at Anfield. The Kop had given us a standing ovation. The press then asked if I had an explanation as to why we lost 4-0 in penalties, to which I replied ‘we have a wonderful team spirit here at Birmingham City and once the first player missed the spot-kick, the rest of the lads didn’t want him to feel bad, so we all missed’!

I think the whole experience had worried Ian Bennett, to the extent of sleepless nights. I think because everyone was aware of what had happened, he knew that if we lost the replay at Liverpool, he would be blamed. ‘Benno’ stayed at the Blues and got a well deserved testimonial at the end of it because of his performances and not only that but his integrity.

My point here is that Ian is a professional footballer and he demonstrated what every footballer in this game should be – honest. His actions show all these idiots in the game that think they can get away with stuff up.

In my opinion, for someone that has managed for 31 years and has been in the game for 53 years like myself, these allegations that have come to light in the media are unbelievable. There has been rumours during my time in the game about games being thrown, but I genuinely never ever thought things like this could actually be arranged. I guess I thought that you would need all 22 players involved and that would never happen.

I am appalled at what we have heard and I just can’t get my head round how lucrative players have messed their whole

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C h u n knits y

Blue Harbour Jumper £45 Marks & Spencer

Alpaca Melange Jumper £495 Nicole Farhi

Next

Chunky Knit £45 Next

Button Neck Knit £48 Fat Face

Jumper £55 Fat Face

Maine Jumper £45 Debenhams Cable Cardi River Island

Bios Marino £260 Nicole Farhi

Tweed Cardigan £525 Nicole fFarhi

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FLYING SPUR DEBUTS AT HIGH-ADRENALINE WINTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE

B

entley returns to the snow-covered wilds of the far north of Finland this winter with a new and extended edition (6 February-6 March 2014) of its Power on Ice driving experience and the opportunity for even more guests to spend time developing advanced techniques with the four-time World Rally Champion and honorary ‘Bentley Boy’, Juha Kankkunen.

A further highlight of Power on Ice 2014 is the debut of the new Flying Spur sedan on the series of challenging and exhilarating snow and ice circuits especially designed

by Kankkunen, who in addition to his 23 world rally victories, has twice broken the world ice speed driving record behind the wheel of Bentley’s Continental cars.

Acclaimed for its exquisite levels of craftsmanship and luxury, the new Flying Spur effortlessly combines this refinement with all the potency of Bentley’s 6.0 litre W12 twin turbocharged engine delivering 616 bhp (625 PS) and a 200 mph (322 km/h) top speed that makes it the world’s fastest luxury four door production car.

A state-of-the-art all-wheel drive system, constantly adjusting the levels of power to the front and rear wheels depending on available traction, ensures the Flying Spur delivers optimal grip regardless of road or weather conditions and is one of the very few ultra-luxury sedans capable of conquering this kind of ‘off-piste’ driving challenge.

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“The Flying Spur is going to be an excellent addition to the Power on Ice experience and we’re looking forward to showing what it is capable of. There’s going to be something special about driving a luxury car you’d expect to see in Monte Carlo or London across the snow and frozen lakes,” comments Kankkunen.

The Flying Spur will join an array of Bentley Continental GT coupes in Finland (powered by the company’s 6.0 litre W12 and 4.0 litre V8 engines) and Kankkunen will work with Bentley’s own factory-trained driving experts who will offer in-depth tuition designed to allow drivers to broaden their range of driving skills when faced by testing road and weather conditions.

Away from the thrill of learning how to drive the Bentley of their choice at high-speed on ice, the four-day adventure in Finland offers guests the chance to unwind in the exclusive and luxurious surroundings of the Ruka Peak resort.

Situated just 60 km from the edge of the Arctic Circle, the resort offers a wide selection of hotel and private chalet accommodation options and the mountain resort is widely believed to offer some of the finest, unbroken views of Finland’s spectacular winter scenery. Open fires, saunas, first class local cuisine and flying to and from Helsinki by private jet help to complement the first class experience.

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Welcome to the musings of Yummy Mummy. Living in Bedford she is married to ‘The Husband’ and together they have 4 children - Rafferty, 9, Violet, 7, Roman, 5 and Clementine, 1.

All my views are my own and are not intended to offend anyone but alas I may frustrate you as I certainly do myself and no doubt those around me at times. I would love to hear from you, your views, questions or indeed just to share your experiences of trying to be a Yummy Mummy. Email me at info@affinitymag.co.uk

Role Reversal!

‘The Husband’ is between jobs at the moment so he is assuming the responsibilities of House Husband for the time being! You would think that I could leave him to it and concentrate on my job? You would, wouldn’t you?!

greeted by his accusations that he didn’t put them there.

I gently reminded him that he had indeed as he had unlocked the door to bang the mud off the football boots outside! See – it’s not me!!

Week one arrives of him not getting up really early for his London commute and leaving the house before most of us have surfaced, so feeling rather generous I allow him a bit of extra time in bed than the rest of us – after all I am used to sorting out all the children before the school run. However when week two arrives I am feeling less generous and allow the children to jump on him in bed, but at least he brings me a cup of tea a couple of mornings! Now we all get up at the same time, but it is amazing how that one extra person to ‘help’ in the morning can actually get in the way so much! I know I have a reputation of being rather efficient after having organised moving house twice in a couple of months (including the packing of all the boxes), and this was when the eldest two were very young, but I do try and ‘let go’ a little bit when ‘The Husband’ doesn’t do it my way.

During the day the youngest is still going to nursery part time to keep the consistency for her and this is when I work and it also gives ‘The Husband’ time to send off his CV. And I hope you agree with me that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect him to do some household chores? I’m not going to put my feet up and watch Corrie as he dons the apron, but he just needs to take on a few more jobs! Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t saying he won’t do it, but he just doesn’t greet the news with any enthusiasm at all and I swear when I am not looking, he grimaces!!

Still it’s not all bad! Now that he isn’t getting home at 7pm like before, we get to sit together and have regular family teas – which he cooks! The children are also enjoying the extra time playing games, doing their homework and reading to him. He also isn’t turning into a Pumpkin if he isn’t in bed by 10pm – I don’t know about you but once all the children were in bed, we had eaten our late tea and tidied up, we do like a bit of a child-free chill before our bedtime, otherwise it does feel like you are on the proverbial hamster wheel!

Honestly I am not too much of a nag but when the clock is ticking away, I can’t help but remind him that they need to get to school on time as I am furiously packing their lunch boxes! I could leave that to him but they would end up late to school looking bedraggled and no doubt with an unusual array of foodstuffs for lunch, or he would mislay them - the lunchboxes, hopefully not the children! The other morning before football he was running about the house searching for his keys when I helpfully pointed out they were in the door, only to be

Mind you we are only four weeks into this so ask me again in another four weeks then it may be a different story, so let’s hope a new job turns up before then!

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Yummy Mummy

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Hat £10 Monsoon

Wooly and Warm

Dinosaur Jumper £12 Next

Owl Cable Cardi Monsoon

Freddie Fox Jumper £28 Monsoon

Dog Jumper £14 Marks & Spencer

John Rocha Jumper £20 Debenhams

marksandspencer

Owl Hat £6 Marks & Spencer

Autograph Jumper £22 Marks & Spencer

Mustard Bow Cardigan £13 Next

Robin Racoon Jumper £24 Monsoon

Mouse Hat £10 Monsoon

Stripe Jumper £11 Next

Bunny Jumper £15 Next

Moose Jumper £13 Next

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Delightful Danesfield O

n arrival at Danesfield House it’s hard not to be impressed with the castle-like frontage. Perched high on a plateau of sweeping grounds and landscaped gardens, Danesfield House is a magnificent country mansion located just outside the pretty village of Marlow-on-Thames, a convenient 40 minute drive from London. Built in 1899, the Grade II listed building is painted a dazzling bright white, and features Neo-Tudor style architecture with castle-like turrets, tall chimney pots and a clock tower. Swathes of intertwining purple and green wisteria lap the edges of the building, creating a stunning view from the tree lined drive up to the estate.

The historic country house is set within 65 acres of extensive grounds and boasts a Michelin starred restaurant, an award-winning spa, swimming pool, ornamental gardens, tennis courts, fully-equipped gymnasium, putting green and if, like us, you’re lucky enough to own your own private helicopter (I’m dreaming again!) there’s even a licensed helicopter pad.

The 62 spacious bedrooms and sumptuous suites are decorated in a luxurious classic country house style to complement the rest of the hotel. Four poster beds, tapestries, oil paintings and chandeliers are staple features, as are the thoroughly modern comforts including flat screen TVs and en-suite bathrooms with L'Occitane toiletries and soft bathrobes. The six junior and four executive suites are spacious and continue the theme of classic luxury, whilst the opulent Tower Suite,within the clock tower, is spread over three floors.

We had an executive room with views overlooking the back gardens and river and included a king-sized bed, complimentary Wifi access, a large TV and an IPod docking station. We also had shared access to a stunning balcony, ideal for enjoying a drink whilst watching the sunset.

After relaxing in our room for a while, we then explored the rest of the hotel. Located just off the oak panelled reception area is The Grand Hall, a spectacular room for guests to relax. The magnificent decor includes clusters of inviting sofas and chesterfield armchairs, antique wooden chests, a grand piano and a six foot original stone fire place engraved with the crest of Danesfield. The church-like ceiling is a replica of Westminster Abbey, with gleaming brass chandeliers suspended from the ornately carved wood. A balcony or ‘Minstrels Gallery’ overlooks the spacious hall and is equipped with a snooker table, antique books cabinet and a cosy raised seating area. It’s these finishing touches that make your stay just that little bit special.

On arrival we took afternoon tea on the stunning terrace which overlooks Danesfield’s gardens, with views reaching across to the River Thames and the Chilterns. It was all very ‘Brideshead Revisited’ as we sipped Earl Grey tea and munched on finger sandwiches, cakes and scones straight from the oven.

The house retains its Tudor charm and historical period features, with vast tapestries and oil paintings adorning the walls, large cut-glass chandeliers, ornate carved ceilings and original grand oak staircases adding to the character of the hotel.

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Breakfast was served the next morning and was, of course, to the same high standards we had become used to during our stay.

Time to get ready for dinner - on offer are two superb inhouse restaurants. The Adam Simmonds restaurant serves classical cuisine with a technical twist and holds one Michelin star, 4AA Rosettes and is currently ranked as the 13th top restaurant in Britain in the Good Food Guide 2013. Meanwhile, The Orangery provides a lessformal dining setting for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, The Orangery overlooks a broad stone terrace set with pretty white wrought iron tables and chairs, with spectacular views of the landscaped gardens and rolling Chiltern Hills beyond. We ate dinner in The Orangery and the food certainly didn’t disappoint, it was perfect - just like everything on offer at Danesfield.

Danesfield offers guests a relaxed, luxury environment whilst still in keeping with a traditional country house; the the ideal place to get away from the stresses and fast pace of modern life and completely relax.

Prices start from £164 for a standard double and £354 for a suite inclusive of breakfast.

After dinner we relaxed in The Grand Hall before retiring for the night.

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Danesfield House Hotel & Spa Henley Road, Marlow-On-Thames Buckinghamshire, SL7 2EY For reservations, please call: 01628 891010 www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk

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et ready for the ride of your life with this feel-good international hit musical sensation, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, starring Jason Donovan coming to Milton Keynes this January for one week only!

Winner of 4 WhatsOnStage.com awards, including Best New Musical, and based on the smash-hit movie, Priscilla is the heartwarming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they had ever dreamed of. Jason Donovan stars as Tick, the role he originated in the West End. With a dazzling array of outrageous Olivier and Tony award-winning costumes and a hit parade of dancefloor favourites, including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, Finally, Boogie Wonderland, Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and I Love The Nightlife, this wildly fresh and funny musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!

Priscilla is ‘hugely entertaining and insanely glitzy. If you’re easily shocked then some of the language may be a bit fruity, but really Priscilla is just a wonderful feel-good musical that will have you foottapping from the moment the crystal balls start spinning to the very last bars of the disco medley when the cast parade as indigenous creatures from Down Under!

Mon 20th – Sat 25th January 0844 871 7652 www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

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What’s on January 2014

Tues 31st December New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery Evening at Moggerhanger Park The owner, Max Valentine, and staff of the acclaimed Introduction Agency - Love’s Great Adventure – are hosting a celebration dinner for past couples who met through LGA and potential singles who are thinking of joining the most dedicated introduction agency in the region.

However, someone is watching LGA’s success with envy, spite and malicious intent. Max used to work as a ‘host’ for Destiny Dating - A rather more ‘inferior’ dating agency.”

It can be bloody murder when an event doesn’t go as planned… £85 per person includes arrival drink, nibbles, 3 course dinner and murder mystery evening www.moggerhangerpark.com

Sun 26th January Wyboston Lakes Wedding Fayre 11am – 3.30pm This event is set in the lovely Willows Centre which is a beautiful venue for a stunning wedding with lots of space, on site accommodation for all, as well as a beautiful courtyard garden! There will be a whole host of exhibitors from photographers to florists, cakemakers to jewellers.

Fashion shows at 12pm & 2pm by Shades of White from St Ives.

Free admission www.wybostonlakes.co.uk Sun 26th January Wrest Park Wedding Showcase 11am – 3pm Please join us for a chance to see all of our suppliers and to experience one of our most elegant and picturesque venues. www.wrestpark

Tues 31st December New Years Eve at The Embankment Join us for a sit down dinner, Casino, Live Band, 4 Course meal, with a glass of Fizz. 2 sittings available (6.30pm & 9.30pm). Late bar until 2am www.embankmentbedford.co.uk

Mon 27th Jan – Sat 1st Feb Dreamboats and Petticoats The Royal and Derngate Inspired by the six multi-million selling albums of the same name, the West End sensation Dreamboats And Petticoats features some of the greatest songs of the rock ‘n’ roll era.

In 1961 emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue. But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.

Featuring classic tracks from Roy Orbison, The Shadows, Eddie Cochran and Billy Fury, amongst others, including Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, C’mon Everybody, Let’s Twist Again and many more hits from music’s golden era. www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Thurs 2nd January Eatable Marshmallow Pillows at The Roald Dahl Museum For 6+ years: come and make this delicious invention from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes. Channel your inner Wonka and make a mini pillow out of royal icing and marshmallows, then paint it with your unique design. The perfect pillow (and midnight snack) for an Oompa Loompa!

At 11am, 1pm and 3pm. £3 per participant in addition to Museum entry.

Call 01494 892192 to book www.roalddahlmuseum.org

Fri 17th January Ghost Hunting at The Ragged School Museum 9pm – 4am The Ragged School in London is a hot-spot for paranormal activity and ghost hunts here have revealed some startling experiences. Apparitions of children have been reported, along with intense poltergeist activity. The school was built in 1867 and is built on 4 levels with many dark stairwells and creepy classrooms to explore.

Ghost hunting nights in London at the Ragged School will give you the chance to experience a genuinely haunted building after dark, where you become a ghost hunter for the night. Dare you join us?

You will have the opportunity to carry out vigils and séances with equipment including Ouija Boards, EMF Meters and Dowsing Rods, guided by the experienced Haunted Happenings team. £65.00 per person www.hauntedhappenings.co.uk

Tues 28th Jan – Sat 1st Feb Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Milton Keynes Theatre Firmly crowned as a modern day classic, Matthew Bourne’s powerful, provocative and totally original interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake turned tradition upside down and took the dance world by storm, dazzling audiences in the West End and Broadway, and across Europe, Asia and Australia. www.atgtickets.com/milton-keynes Thurs 30th January Affinity Ladies Night 7.30pm The Embankment, Bedford Join us for an evening of all the fun of a Hen night without the bride. An all inclusive ticket price to include bubbles, canapés, raffle, butlers in the buff, show off your inner artist when you draw a naked male model, fun and games and so much more Tickets £30 per person jane@affinitymag.co.uk / Julia@affinitymag.co.uk

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Be part of Affinity the PREMIUM FREE Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Affinity has become the regions most loved and widely read magazine Our distribution and readership is extensive Advertise with us in print and online and gain new customers by putting your business in front of our readers

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Affinity January2014 1.qxp_Jan 2014 Aff 12/12/2013 20:24 Page 74

Give your loved ones the best gift, ‘THEIR HEALTH!’ Consultations for just £20 and first treatment for just £25!

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A Kind of

Annual Review

W

e’ve owned Tudor Rose Patchwork since 2008, some five years now. We knew little or nothing about patchwork and quilting when we started, although Sandra has been a sewer for a long time. We were lucky in having Jane and Helen, the previous owners, continuing to work for us after we took the shop over. Jane retired in 2013 (and who can blame her?) but Helen is still running some very popular regular groups and workshops.

Having them involved made a big difference to us, particularly during the first couple of years. We are grateful to both of them!

It was a real struggle initially. Events leading up to the recession were unfolding even as we finalised the purchase. To us, as a small retailer, the recession meant near-disaster because many of our customers were (and are) on fixed incomes. Their reaction to the onset of recession was the obvious and only choice. They stopped or greatly reduced their spending on non-essentials.

C&B Home and Garden Maintenance One o jobs to regular maintenance For all your home and garden needs

For a friendly reliable service and a free quote give us a call on 07531 491019 c-bmaintenance@hotmail.co.uk

Hobbies, such as patchwork and quilting, are, unfortunately, non-essentials!

Instead of hunkering down and waiting it out by not replacing stock and not advertising, we chose to go the other way. We moved from being pretty much a fabric and haberdashery shop towards becoming more of a threadcraft shop, with lots of new item lines such as beading and a major investment in new stock for everything, including an expanded knitting yarn selection.

Things have gradually improved and in 2013 we expanded, with a brand new workshop, a sewing machine area and our new coffee shop, O For Coffee.

Only time will tell if we have the mixture right. We hope so!

Have a very happy and prosperous 2014.

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A quiet night in...

A

homeless seamstress rises to become a talented actress, in this dangerously addictive story of first love set in sixteenth-century Italy Modena, Italy, 1582. Seventeen-year-old seamstress Sofia Genotti is on the run, falsely accused of theft. Penniless and desperate to avoid the perils of whoredom, she is introduced to a troupe of travelling actors, who ask her to join them as costume mistress. Within weeks she is learning to act.

Acting will bring her closer to Beppe Bianchi, who plays the anarchic character Arlecchino. As the two become increasingly intimate, Sofia is sure that she has never been happier. But after a fated performance at an aristocrat's castle, she is accosted by the owner . . . and the following morning he is found dead. Sofia is accused of murder.

A tale of blackmail and and sexual jealousy will reveal the true killer and the redemptive power of theatre will triumph.

The Lone Ranger (DVD) he Lone Ranger rides again with this big-budget Walt Disney Pictures production starring Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as the famed gunman. The story centres on Tonto's recollection of the adventures that found lawman John Reid transformed into The Lone Ranger, legendary hero of the Old West.

T

Release Date: 2nd December

The Railway Man

C

olin Firth and Nicole Kidman star in the powerful true story of a former army officer who tracks down his wartime torturer. After the fall of Singapore in 1942, young Scottish army lieutenant Eric Lomax (Jeremy Irvine) is captured by the Japanese. He's then forced to work on the notorious Thai-Burma railway. This becomes known as the 'Death Railway' because so many Allied prisoners of war die during its construction. Decades later, the adult Lomax (Colin Firth) is still suffering from the psychological trauma of those three and a half years of slave labour. But he meets beautiful Patricia Wallace (Nicole Kidman) on a train and they subsequently marry. With her encouragement, he sets out to track down Takashe Nagase (Hiroyuki Sanada) - the man who so brutally tortured him.

Adapted from the late Eric Lomax's bestselling memoir of the same title, this is an extraordinarily moving account of the emotional aftermath of war.

Release Date: 1st January

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Milton Keynes

January2014 Cover .qxp_Layout 1 copy 13/12/2013 08:34 Page 1

JANUARY 2014 ISSUE 32

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

January 2014

Match Fixing

Barry Fry’s thoughts

MILLMAN

JEWELLERS OF DISTINCTION 2 Church Arcade Bedford Tel: 01234 354026

AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

DUKAN DIET Kickstart 2014 with this 7 day plan

CELEBRITY MATCH Win a pair of Sorel boots as worn by the stars

YOUR VERY OWN DOWNTON ABBEY A stay at Danesfield House

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