June2016

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AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

June 2016

JUNE 2016 ISSUE 61

Festival Fever

What to wear

Happy Hair The latest products for your hair

Summer Dining

All about Al Fresco

Just for Him Gifts he’ll love this Father’s Day

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Welcome...

Hi Everyone ‘Envy in Everyday Life’ who explains the difference to us (page 16).

Am I really writing this halfway through the year!! Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun! And this month we have certainly been having fun, with some great things in store for you!

Now is the time we are all thinking of our holidays.

Traveling abroad can be an amazing experience, full of good times and good memories. However, it can also be challenging to the body and to our health in general, we run through a few health tips (page 20) to make sure you make the most of your holidays!

Pimm’s is definitely a drink associated with Summer, whether its Wimbledon, Ascot or The Queens Garden Party – We thought we’d bring you a round up of our favourite desserts that just happen to be made with Pimm’s (page 48).

Happy Sunny Days

Cheltenham, a Regency town full of boutique shops, restaurants, history, the races and the jewel in its crown (literally) Queens Hotel – We spent a lovely couple of days at this elegant, majestic hotel page 70 tells you all about it.

Jane x

Have you ever been jealous of someone because they have something you want? Is it jealousy or is it envy? The two are very closely linked and sometimes one gets mistaken for the other, we speak to esteemed forensic psychotherapist Dr. Patricia Polledri author of a new book

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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

18 Beauty Updates 24 Midlife Madness 26 Managing Stress in Others

28 Hot Picks 35 Nautical and Nice 37 Slip & Slider

40 Foodie News 46 Summer Dining 51 Posh Up Your Picnic

60 63 64 68 72

Just for Him Elemis Magic Three Great Concerts India’s Golden Triangle Your Stars

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What does your kitchen mean to you?

Ltd Very affordable true HANDLELESS GERMAN kitchens now in store

Forget the sales hype just give us a try, you WILL be pleasantly surprised

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Discover the Splendour and History of Woburn Abbey and Gardens

A Fascinating Day Out

A

house filled with history, Woburn Abbey is the family home of the 15th Duke and Duchess of Bedford. The Earls and Dukes of Bedford and their families have been at the centre of social and political events for almost 400 years.

Take your time to learn more about their lives and discover great tales of imprisonment, beheadings, love affairs, Royal Pardons, Prime Ministers, Grand Tours, political reforms, Royal state visits and much more.

Find out more about Duchess Mary, remembered for her achievements in aviation ‘The Flying Duchess’ had many years working at her own hospital as a nurse, radiologist and even stand-in surgeon. In addition to medicine and flying she was an experimental photographer, passionate about the natural world and an accomplished sportswoman. Her unconventional life is celebrated today in the Flying Duchess Room in the Abbey.

Within the Abbey there are 22 rooms to explore over 3 floors, including the State Rooms, porcelain displays in the Crypt and Gold and Silver Vaults. We are proud of our world renowned art collection with more than 250 paintings including works by Rembrandt, Reynolds and Van Dyck. One of the highlights is the largest private collection of Venetian views by Canaletto on view to the public.

Your visit is not complete without a stroll through the beautiful, award-winning gardens. When the 6th Duke inherited the Abbey he commissioned Humphry Repton, the famous landscape gardener, to create designs for enhancing the gardens and deer park. Two hundred years

later, many of the features you will find in the gardens are based on Repton’s designs, many of which have been restored to their former glory. This time of year, the gardens are awash with colour as beautiful spring flowers are in full bloom.

The Home of Afternoon Tea We have a past Duchess of Bedford to thank for popularising this quintessential English tradition. Anna-Maria, wife of the 7th Duke, Duchess of Bedford in the 1830s, is credited with first making ‘Afternoon Tea’ into a formal social occasion. A Lady-inWaiting to Queen Victoria, Anna Maria began the custom of taking afternoon tea at around 5.00pm and it became fashionable at the Royal Palaces and at Woburn Abbey where she entertained her friends.

Indulge in a Taste of History Set within the grounds of The Abbey, The Duchess Tearoom offers a wonderful assortment of home-made cakes and biscuits and freshly prepared meals and snacks and a choice of hot and cold beverages.

Please telephone 01525 290333 to book your afternoon tea.

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Happy Hair Add a little Hollywood glamour to your hair with these new products

Color Wow Cocktails £22 Selfridges

Pimps & Pinups Hair Paint £7.99, pimpsandpinups.com

Baylis & Harding Coconut Extract Shampoo & Conditioner Duo £5.99 Lloyds

Charles Worthington Instant Root Concealer £14.99 Boots

StriVectin Bodifying Radiance Serum £28, Boots

Fudge Professional Creative Colour Collection £9.25 fudgeprofessional.com

Josh Rosebrook Enrich Hair Mask £31, abeautifulworld.co.uk Macadamia Professional Tousled Texture Finishing Spray £18.95, macadamiahair.co.uk

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The Difference Between

Envy and Jealousy

M

any of us find it difficult to differentiate between envy and jealousy, here esteemed forensic psychotherapist Dr. Patricia Polledri author of a new book “Envy in Everyday Life” explains it to us:

Basically, envy arises when one person feels they lack what another person has and wishes that the other person did not have it. The first person does not want what the other person has for himself, but spoils it so that the other person cannot enjoy having it. This is the unique feature of envy; its lack of any positive aim. The only obvious gain would seem to be sadistic pleasure at the joy of another person’s harm.

As all envy is destructive, it is often accompanied by a persecutory conscience leading, in turn to loneliness and feelings of isolation. Envy can consume the envier, who lives on a treadmill; it has been described as follows: When your gain is my pain and your pain is my gain.

In discussions with people about what they understand by envy, I have been struck by how many times the word ‘jealousy’ is used instead of ‘envy’. It is important to distinguish between them, although the two are often closely linked and overlap. So let me define the difference between jealousy and envy.

Primarily, envy occurs in a two–person relationship, while jealousy always appears in a relationship involving a group of three.

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Even if envy is denied or ignored, it will still continue to fester … because, don’t forget, envy is a mushroom of an emotion that flourishes in dark places.

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One of the qualities most envied in others is peace of mind. Other enviable qualities are sweetness and innocence…the absence of envy in the other. To the envier, the envied person “has it all”, good looks, brains and wealth. But the crowning advantage is that they are good people.

By contrast, in my clinical experience, envy is a more primitive emotional state and is not concerned with relationships at all. It needs only one other person.

Definitions of envy emphasize feelings of hostility, spite and ill-will. Envy is a directed emotion; without a victim it cannot occur. It is also called envy when a person withholds something from someone else out of spite and the other person is not aware it is happening.

Jealousy, on the other hand, occurs when a person either fears losing or has already lost an important relationship with another person to a rival. Jealousy may be felt in many different ways, but typically it includes fear of loss, anger over betrayal and insecurity. Jealousy implies that there is someone or something we want to possess. We do not become jealous when our partner dies. The threat must involve the loss of the relationship to a rival; whether this loss is feared, is actual and present or is a fact of the past.

Here I can give an example of something that happened to me when it was my turn to host an annual alumni gathering of work colleagues. I was preparing a dinner for ten people and I asked a colleague to inform all of the others of the date, time and venue. I had assumed that she had done so, but it had ‘slipped her mind’. I was left with a table full of food and no guests, feeling a complete fool. When I called her, doubting my own judgement, and worried that I had got the date wrong she replied: “Oh no! You poor thing! I was waiting for you to re-confirm the date!” I had innocently trusted her to pass on the details. This is an example of inaction withholding something by ‘forgetting’ to pass on important information. It is always deliberate but it is never out in the open. In her mind, I became a ‘poor thing’, instead of the competent forensic psychotherapist that I know myself to be.

The commonest examples of jealousy involve romantic relationships. But sibling jealousy is also well known, and jealousy may also occur between friends, employees with the same boss, students of the same teacher and so on.

With jealousy, three people need to be involved: the couple and the outsider who is jealous of them and wants to split up their relationship. We all carry the ‘jealousy gene’; we are born with it and I believe it is, unlike envy, innate. This is because our parents were united in their sexual relationship in order for us to be conceived. We are on the outside of that triangular relationship from the day we are born.

Begrudging and a sense of injustice are characteristic of envious people, who take pleasure in depriving others of what they have or could have - without deriving any sort of advantage themselves. Such individuals go to great lengths to inflict harm and unhappiness. Envious destructiveness is deliberate. The envious person denies goodwill or love towards the recipient of their anger.

What he/she wants is to remove the bilious anger and bitter vindictiveness from within himself, to get rid of it and put it elsewhere. Any relief is temporary, because the sauce of his torment is not in what he envies, but in himself.

In adulthood, love scorned is a central theme in the loss of a beloved to another. When this happens, or there is a threat of this happening, jealous passions soon erupt.

The following example is from a well-known journalist and author who, in her column in a Sunday magazine, describes this painful triangular situation in her reaction of jealous possessiveness when she thinks her husband is with another woman…

As a society we are consumed by material gratification, for example, if I am jealous that you have a shiny new car, I will work harder and I too can have the same car.

But, if I am envious of your shiny new car, I will slash the tyres behind your back, or tamper with the brakes, so you can’t enjoy having it.

‘About once a year something triggers off a really bad attack of jealousy, and I turn into a raving maniac, all perspective blotted out. “He’s late home from work”, I reason, “He must be with another woman”. Or he’s early.

“He must be feeling guilty about having a boozy lunch with her”. And so on and so on, lashing myself with misery. Once the octopus jealousy gets me in its stranglehold, it is almost impossible to wriggle free’.

Both envy and jealousy are of great importance in social life and can be powerful motivators of human behaviour. * Dr Patricia Polledri new book, Envy In Everyday Life (published by Clink Street Publishing) is available from 28th June 2016 RRP £9.99 paperback, RRP £3.99 eBook is available from online retailers including amazon.co.uk and to order from all good bookstores.

The characteristic experience of this type of jealousy is that of anxiety and insecurity. This is the difference between jealousy, involving a triangular relationship and envy, which involves only one other person.

Here, love is the primary issue, not hate. However, jealous anger and resentment can be quite as cruel, malicious and spiteful as envy. What differs is the focus - love lost; the direction of the anger is towards the rival; and the possibility of a resolution - love regained and retained.

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Not just a Hoover

Dyson have launched a Supersonic hair dryer. This new styling tool uses Air Multiplier technology, allowing the volume of the air drawn into the motor to be amplified by three, which in turn produces a high pressure, high velocity jet of air. It has a rubber mount which helps to prevent the motor from vibrating against the inside of the handle, reducing the transfer of noise between the motor and case. It also uses intelligent heat control to maintain Dyson’s optimum temperature, helping to prevent extreme heat damage. Priced at £299 it is the Ferrari of hairdryers with three precise speed settings, and four precise heat settings as well as a diffuser and smoothing nozzle.

Tiger Orchid

Last month Balmain launched their new limited edition women’s fragrance, Extatic Tiger Orchid. Paying tribute to flower, notes include ginger flower, sunny flowers, pink pepper, night jasmine, ylang-ylang, patchouli, cashmeran and benzoin. Balmain Extatic Tiger Orchid eau de parfum is available at Harrods for £69 for 90ml.

BEAUTY UPDATES Heaven Scent

Laundry Room the new spring scent from No.22 includes notes of aldehyde, cotton, lily of the valley, violet, rose, white musk and soft woods. Available exclusively at Liberty London priced at £38. The brand has also launched an exclusive personalisation service in which customers can choose a name/word to be placed upon a No.22 scent, this is available exclusively online priced at £55.

Lip Perfect

essence has announced the launch of its glossy and velvet stick matt lip colours. The glossy sticks offer high shine and intense colour, available in Radiant Rose, Clear Nude, Luminous Rosewood, Poshi Pink, and Brilliant Burgundy. The velvet sticks have a silky matt finish and are available in Nude Hero, Peony Star, Mega Melon, Cherry Crash and Plum Perfect. Available exclusively from Wilko stores for £1.99 each.

Glowing Skincare

Three new skincare sets from glo-therapeutics have launched, each offering a complete homecare regime for all skin types. The Normal to Oily kit is designed to balance, brighten and purify with light hydrators, botanicals and refining agents. The Normal to Dry Skin kit has been designed to hydrate, brighten and restore and The Sensitive Skin kit has been designed to balance, protect and reduce redness. All skin kits are priced at £46 and available from gloprofessional.com.

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It's Holiday Time!

Bikini? Checked! Passport? Checked!

First-aid kit? Neglected!

Travelling abroad can be an amazing experience, full of good times and good memories. However, it can also be challenging to the body and to our health in general. We asked Cassandra Barns, Nutritionist to put together a holiday checklist that could help you to stay in good health and help you make the most of your holidays!

capsule, with the addition of ginger, glutamine and Aloe Vera (www.provenprobiotics.co.uk, £7.95).

Anti-Microbial To protect further against so-called ‘Delhi belly’ when travelling to high-risk places, it may be worth taking an extra supplement that could have natural anti-bacterial or antiparasitic activity. Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent option. Of course, this goes hand in hand with essential travel hygiene practices such as avoiding non-sterilised drinking water and ice in drinks, avoiding salads that may have been washed in tap water, avoiding food that could have been lying around for a long time or has had flies on it, and making sure you use anti-bacterial hand wipes or gels where necessary.

Live Bacteria Supplement One of the first supplements recommended for travellers is a live bacteria supplement. 'When we travel to different countries, we can be exposed to foods that we are not used to, which can easily imbalance the bacteria in our intestines and upset our digestion. We can also be at higher risk of exposure to bacteria that can cause illness, especially if we travel to third-world countries, or other places where food hygiene may not be up to standard. Probiotics can help to balance your gut flora and support digestive tract. Choose a supplement that is designed for travelling and that doesn’t have to be kept refrigerated, such as Prop-Ven Probiotics’ ‘Travel Probiotic’ containing 12.5 billion bacteria per

Travel Sickness Support Ginger is a traditional remedy for motion sickness and other types of nausea. It has for centuries (it's said to have been first used by the ancient Chinese), and although it doesn't

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work for everyone, a lot of people find it very effective indeed. Try taking 1 to 2 ginger capsules a couple of hours before you travel, and again during your flight or train journey if necessary.

Sun Protection Holidays mean sunny weather, so sun protection is a must!

Avoid the harsh chemicals and pore-clogging ingredients that are found in most sun screens. Try one made primarily from natural ingredients, such as Green People’s ‘No Scent Sun Lotion SPF 25’ There are also certain nutrients that could help to protect the skin from sun damage. These include beta-carotene and other members of the carotenoid family, such as lycopene and astaxanthin, which have been found to reduce UVAinduced damage to our cells. Try Nature’s Plus AgeLoss Skin Support supplement (www.revital.co.uk, £34.24), which contains astaxanthin, a beta-carotene and carotenoid mix, and grape seed extract. It is ideal to start taking the supplement on a daily basis at least two weeks before you go away, and throughout your holiday. It does not, however, replace the need to use an appropriate sunscreen.

Green Foods When we’re travelling, we don’t necessarily have access to healthy food. We may struggle to get a variety of foods and especially enough fresh green vegetables and fibre. As a ‘next best’, a green superfood supplement in tablet or powder form may be able to fill the gaps. Chlorella is an excellent example – it is a micro-algae that is naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and chlorophyll – the pigment that gives green vegetables their colour. It also contains fibre and protein, and is easy to digest and absorb.

Try Nature’s Plus Green Lightning (www.revital.co.uk, £39.65) convenient powder form to mix with coconut water or apple juice.

Omega-3 Fish Oil All-inclusive hotels offer a great choice of foods, however dinner options are very often fried in vegetable oil.

Vegetable cooking oils are very high in omega-6 fatty acids, which you may think is a good thing – omega-6 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, after all – but high levels of it can cause an imbalance between omega-3 and omega-6 in the body, which may cause or exacerbate inflammation. In the short term, inflammation can show up as aches and pains (including a worsening of joint pain in those who already suffer) or skin rashes, for example. If you can, research the typical diet and food availability in your destination before you go. If fried foods are hard to avoid, it may be beneficial to take a good quality omega-3 fish oil supplement while you are away to keep a healthy balance. Go for Omega 3 by Quest Vitamins (www.revital.co.uk, £9.75).

Aloe Vera Gel Aloe Vera gel is a traditional skin soother, and is moisturising and healing for the skin. It can therefore be an excellent choice to use as a natural aftersun – in fact; many commercial aftersun products contain aloe vera among their ingredients for this reason. Choose an aloe vera gel that contains minimal added ingredients, such as Soothing Skin Gel by What Skin Needs, that comes in a light, cooling texture and is packed with essential oils (www.whatskinneeds.co.uk, £14.99)

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Bon Voyage!

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Bronzed Beauty These lightweight liquid bronzers will leave you with a natural sun kissed glow

Michael Kors Hydrating Bronze Gel Creme £25

Benefit Dew The Hoola Liquid Bronzer £22.50 Debenhams

stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Bronzer £24, stila.co.uk

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Gelee Bronzer £33 Debenhams

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator £22.50, John Lewis

NARS Laguna Liquid Bronzer £26.50 narcosmetics.co.uk

bareMinerals Bareskin Sheer Sun Bronzer £25, lookfantastic.com

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Midlife Madness Bring on the Beach Babes

I

have always loved hot sun, summer (not that the two are necessarily linked in the UK), beaches, holidays and everything that goes with those lazy, hazy summer days. I have, since being a teenager, had this view of myself as a bronzed, lithe beach babe, blonde hair flowing, and tanned skin glowing in contrast to a stylish white bikini on a lithe body. Yep, that’s all a dream, the mirror simply doesn’t agree! When I tan it is invariably patchy, I must say that when I see all these fancy cut out one pieces modelled on beautiful women, who accessorise swimsuits with statement jewellery, I can’t help myself imagining the ridiculous tan lines that any normal person would get wearing such outfits! Anyway my beach look is a little different. Of course I do always try to equip myself with stylish swimwear that hides most of the lumpy bumpy saggy bits - which seem to be increasing as I get older, I look at the label and the ‘hold your tummy in accentuate your boobs’ swimsuit always looks great on the model and I try it on, full of hope, only to find that I still look like me with all the saggy lumpy bits which it seems to have had little impact on - in fact nothing short of extensive plastic surgery would have much of an impact.

So like many women my age I decided that I needed a cover up item too, and yes you are right, it turns out much the same - looks marvelous on the size 6 model -not quite the same on me! Then there is the whole hair on the beach issue - if it’s long enough I always want to sport that neat, effortless, out of the way, up-do - sleek and sophisticated - well I must confess I find that hard to achieve at the best of times and, if I do manage a pale imitation of that look as I set off to the beach, it’s guaranteed by the time I get there to resemble the ‘been out almost all night and just

got home’ look. Sunscreen I discover is another issue - I was one of the earlier generation who had a sort of laissez faire attitude to sun, so I haven’t fully mastered the skill of applying sun screen well. I tried the invisible one monumental failure as I couldn’t see which bits I’d done, so patchy it hardly does the jigsaw like tan I acquired justice; the spray ones I always seem to end up spraying in my eyes (not helped by the fact that if I have shades on (in an effort to look cool) I can’t actually see a darned thing (need bifocals for that), so when I think I am aiming the nozzle at my arms, legs or wherever, in fact, it is often aimed straight at my face. After a few days of that regime, sitting in the shade wrapped in a towel as protection seems like an attractive option!

And of course, sunscreen is not the only lotion - you need after sun too, fake tan if you do adopt the towel in shade option and numerous potions to protect against all the stinging beasties, or soothe the bites when said protection has failed, as well as antihistamines (essential) general painkillers (never leave home without them) various antiinflammatory’s (literally just in case)- so my case actually resembles a traveling apothecary’s more than a sophisticated traveller.

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Still in the same way as some who don’t love the slopes love the après ski activities, I can always enjoy the après beach activities, cocktails and barbecues on a cool terrace, whilst watching the sunset over the ocean - while I’m in pain from sunburn and irritable with bites or prickly heat, have cold sores on my lip, which I always seem to get, and an allergy to some local plant that makes my nose and eyes run. Not quite the sun kissed beach babe look I was hoping for but hey - bring it on!

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Learning to

Manage Stress in Others We are all aware that stress is a common feature of life in our society today and that it can be harmful to our physical, mental and emotional health. Many of us will have worked out ways to manage stress ourselves, which may involve specific strategies like mindfulness, or meditation and more general approaches such as regular sleep and eating patterns, exercise, time for relaxation and perhaps talking problems over with friends. What is sometimes harder to handle is stress in those around you, because you can’t usually use those helpful strategies on other people BUT when you are around others who are stressed it is hard not to let it have an impact on you. In any environment where people are together, a place or work, a home, a school, even a hobby or sport based club, stress in those around you can be a problem.

But as with stress in ourselves, often the problem to begin with may appear to be stress, but actually it’s the way we respond that does the damage.

It’s not stress that kills us - it’s our reaction to it.

Hans Selye

Acknowledge it Exists The first step to dealing effectively with stress in your environment - that is in the people around you - is to acknowledge that it exists. Often the problem with stress in particular, is that it becomes the elephant in the room, it is blatantly there but somehow it’s never spoken of. So whether it is a teenager who has been grumpy because of the stress of exams, a partner who is under pressure at work, or colleagues who are working to tight deadlines, be honest with yourself and then with them that stress is in fact an issue. It doesn’t have to become a counselling session, just a simple comment, at a time that is appropriate, to show that you know they are under pressure.

Offer Support If you can see people, especially people you love or care about, struggling with stress it is natural to want to help. But people who are struggling with stress are often so wrapped up in their problems or busyness it can be hard for them to accept offers of help and support. Clearly there needs to be some sensitivity here, if you offer to take them for a relaxing coffee when you can see that they are in the middle of a difficult task then you know the answer is going to be no - but when the time is right, providing an opportunity to show that you care is one way to be supportive. It can also be helpful to remind them of a few facts, BUT this needs to be done sensitively too.

One of the particular aspects of work stress is that everything seems vital and a sure sign of stress is when people who are ill insist on working, because they feel they are utterly indispensable. The first fact is simply that they aren’t - we are all valuable but nobody is ever indispensable and the second fact is that if they don’t look after themselves they won’t be

able to sustain whatever it is they are doing for very long at all.

One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important.

Bertrand Russell

Be Clear About Your Role and Responsibility One of the things that becomes difficult if you are with people who are stressed, is that you can take on their problems. They might not do it intentionally, but often people who are stressed will somehow blame their stress on those around them or at least try to transfer some of it. Be very clear with yourself what your role is and is not. A teenage stressing about exams or results will often ‘make’ this a parent problem by blaming them for things, whether it’s because there is no (or not the right) bread for the sandwich they simply must have at that moment, or a colleague who blames you for a photocopier not working. Accept the fact that people who are stressed will often seek to blame others BUT their stress is not your fault. Yes we might seek to be supportive parents or colleagues but we should not become a whipping boy. It’s also ok to say simply that you can see they are stressed and you empathise BUT and then be clear about what is and isn’t your responsibility.

You still Deserve Respect When we can see others are stressed, especially if it is people we care about, it’s easy to fall into the position of putting up with anything. Actually the fact is you are a person of value too and although you may sympathise with their position, it isn’t ok to be shouted at or abused simply because of how they are feeling. It can be tempting to ‘let it go’ because you can see they are stressed but the danger is that you will probably keep on having to bear the brunt of it. So stand up for yourself by explaining that although you sympathise with them that does not give them the right to be hurtful or unkind to others - even bosses sometimes need to hear this. If it seems to fall on deaf ears then protect yourself by getting away from the situation. If the words have been spoken and they leave you feeling bad in some way - perhaps doubting your ability, then it’s time to protect yourself by managing your thoughts otherwise they will have successfully managed to transfer their feelings and stress to you.

We all like to help people and it is right to try but you can’t usually resolve stress in others, you can support and help and offer advice but how they respond will be their decision. What you can always do though is make sure that their stress doesn’t have a detrimental impact on you.

For any further information contact attuned education 07921193479 email info@attunededucation.com or visit www.attunededucation.com

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Quoits Garden Game £14.95, www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Statement Necklace £156, www.butterfly-jewellery.com

AFFINITY HOT PICKS

Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger Liqueur£17.65, www.amazon.co.uk

£KMS California Travel Size Hair Kits £18, www.lookfantastic.com

Tyrrells Coronation Chciken Crisps £2, Ocado

Tangle Teezer Lemon Sherbert £10.60, www.lookfantastic.com

This month’s must have gifts and accessories

Bardot Style Jumpsuit £60, Topshop

Mermaid Blouse £44, www.sugarhillboutique.com

Foxdenton Winslow Plum Gin £23.50 (70cl), www.foxdentonestate.co.uk

Fringed Crossbody Bag £375, www.mariasbag

Polaroid iF045 Camera £49.99, Currys

£NIA Car Fragrance £5, www.niafragrances.com

Bobble Sandals £35, Office

Seaside Dress £49, www.sugarhillboutique.com

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A wide range of colours and styles to cater for different budgets Bespoke products Free plan & design service Full installation team Interior design service Friendly, local company

Amazing New Showroom Offers

WE HAVE MOVED

Kreative, 2-4 Prebend Street, Bedford MK40 1QW Tel: 01234 300023

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FASHION

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riverisland

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Festival

Fever

Shell and Tassel Trim Straw Hat £12.99 New Look

Wrap Sandals £30 Next

Tribal Cuff £14.99 New Look

Fringed Bag £29 Accessorize

penneys

Crochet Crop Top £14.99 New Look

Bianco Block Print Shorts £22 Accessorize

Top £35 River Island Crochet Top £35 Simply Be

Playsuit £10 Primark

Floral Denim Shorts £29 Glamorous

Ankle Boot £15 Primark

Black Feather Crop Top £24 Glamorous

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Hats Off

Chevron Braid Fodora Hat £19 Accessorize

J by Jasper Hat £22 Debenhamsjpg

Cowboy Hat £19.95 White Stuff primarkuk

Straw Hat £10 F&F Hat £22 Topshop

Mantaray Hat £14 Debenhams Floppy Hat £14 Next

Aztec Straw Hat £8 George Floppy Hat £8 Tu at Sainsburys

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Nautical and

Nice

Breton Dress £39 Daxon

Beach Bag £25 National Trust

Skirt £65 Joy Jacket £35 M&Co

Stripe Collar Dress £80 Laura Ashley

Long Shorts Elvi

Top £49 Phase Eight

Maxi Dress £59.95 White Stuff

Verona Dress £110 Studio 8

Trainers £19.99 Deichmann UK Linen Shirt £59 Phase Eight

Suitcase Bag £32 Accessorize

Model Maxi

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Off Shoulder Maxi £45 Miss Selfridge

Aztec Print Maxi £45 Wallis

Primark Frill Trim Maxi Dress £22.99 New Look

Maxi Dress £69 Miss Selfridge Red Maxi Dress £29.50 M&S.

Side Split Maxi £20 M&Co Double Layer Maxi Dress £60 Very

Bandeau Maxi Dress £35 Accessorize

Slip

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Slider

£49.95, Moda in Pelle

£17.99 New Look £65 Dune

£22, Next £85, Dune

£26, Next £40, Dune

£28, Next £65 Dune

£25, M&S

£45.95, Moda in Pelle

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FOOD & DRINK

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Culinary Couture

Blossom at Plateau

Plateau London have launched a sixcourse Blossom City Tasting Menu made all the more special by an original dessert created by Executive Chef Daniel McGarey in collaboration with Cadenzza, Canary Wharf’s best loved designer jewellery boutique. Each “Basket of Blossom Surprises” dessert will showcase a beautiful ring, made with Swarovski Elements, a gift for a unique occasion or an excuse to pop the question. The rest of the tasting menu will be made up of floral-inspired dishes with spring flavours, including seared Orkney scallop with oyster and lettuce velouté, lovage and almonds; pressed duck terrine with rhubarb, ginger and nasturtium flowers; rose veal rump on a bed of broad beans, asparagus and smoked potato; and Spring vegetable tart with quinoa, goat’s curd and esplette pepper.

Menus are priced at £60 per person or £85 with paired wines. www.plateau-restaurant.co.uk

FOODIE NEWS

Diet Coke - Absolutely Fabulous To celebrate, the upcoming release of the Absolutely Fabulous movie Diet Coke has unveiled limited-edition Diet Coke Ab Fab themed packs. Inspired by the glitz and glamour of the British comedy, a striking image of Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley back in action as the stylish duo, Edina and Patsy, decorates the limited-edition pack designs. Available across the full Diet Coke range nationwide from midJune, while stocks last.

An Absolutely Fabulous limitededition 250ml bottle will also be available from Liberty London and Boots stores nationwide.

Hawkshead Relish Company, a renowned artisan producer based in the heart of the Lake District, have launched their new couture range. This exquisite range brings together a selection of the beautifully handcrafted Hawkshead Relish award winning preserves in both sweet & savoury varieties, presented in beautiful jars accessorised with a chic neck tag. This exclusive range brings sophisticated elegance to the dining table, as well as making stylish culinary gifts totally in vogue for the discerning foodie. Strawberry Daiquiri Jam, Raspberry & Vanilla Jam & Lemoncello Curd are just a selection of the stunning range.

Are you a Cuppanut?

From reducing bad breath, improving bone strength and supporting weight loss, the benefits of matcha green tea make it a key contender against other super foods. Pukka Herbs’ have introduced a NEW organic matcha tea range offering a variety of flavours for different moods and activities. Priced at £2.79 and available in Supreme Matcha Green, Ginseng Matcha Green, Clean Matcha Green and Mint Matcha Green you'll be sure to find one that suits your mood.

Spring Forward to Summer

Get ready to spring clean your snacking regime with the launch of a new range of ‘Yummertime’ recipes, brought to you by the taste experts at graze.com. As the days get longer and the arrival of spring signals the start of a long-awaited summer, our attention turns to a whole new eating regime. And just in time, snacking is set to get a lot more interesting with the introduction of a range of light, fresh recipes designed to up the feel good factor. The summer-inspired Yummertime range is available online and nationwide with a price of £5.99 for 6 punnets.

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Loving the Legstraps Have you ever walked into a pub or restaurant and instantly felt welcome, with an atmosphere warm and friendly and the smell of food making your mouth water before you’ve even sat down? That’s exactly how it felt when we paid a visit to The Legstraps in the village of Wootton on the outskirts of Bedford.

restaurant. The menu was full of tempting dishes created with fresh seasonal ingredients all set to entice us. Finally our choices were made with starters being Duck Croquettes, cucumber, spring onion and hoisin dip served on a slate board in a small cast iron pan, the presentation was flawless as was the taste – with the duck tender and the flavour of the other ingredients all coaxing each other. The other choice was Crispy Pork Cheeks with apple textures, the apple textures had a unique taste

After pre-dinner drinks in the cosy informal bar area, we headed to our table in the chic, subtle and stylish 42

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remincent of toffee apples, when combined with the tender pork cheeks, the texture and taste from both ingredients was delightful.

Main courses were Chicken Caesar salad, baby gem lettuce, crispy hens egg, anchovies and croutons; the delicately flavoured chicken was complimented with its entourage of fresh ingredients, proving a real delight on the palette.

Smoked Haddock and Loch Duart Salmon and Dill fishcakes with skinny fries and a house salad, the fishcakes were full of fish that was utterly flavoursome.

Here we are again….Dessert time and I can’t possibly fit one in can I? Well purely in the interest of research I can’t do a restaurant review without a dessert – I opted for strawberry cheesecake with rhubarb and ginger compote, this was light and creamy with a fresh sweet strawberry taste that was exquisite.

Hubby’s dessert was stout and date sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream, it certainly didn’t disappoint and the stout added to a traditional dessert proved a real hit.

All of the dishes were presented beautifully, the food was fabulous, service superb and the wonderful ambience made our whole dining experience a real treat.

Make sure you pop along to sample the menu for yourselves, you won’t be disappointed.

The Legstraps 01234 854112 www.thelegstraps.co.uk

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Roasted Carrot, Barley and Smoked Mackerel Salad with Sriracha Yogurt Dressing Perfect for an easy weeknight supper or filling lunch, this dish marries the flavours of nutty barley, roasted carrots and rich smoked mackerel, resulting in a hearty salad that's singing with flavour.

Ingredients 150g (5oz) quick-cook pearl barley 2 medium carrots, quartered lengthways and cut into small batons 1 tbsp olive oil 3/4 tbsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 orange, zested and juiced 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 smoked mackerel fillets, skinned and flaked 40g (1 1/2oz) watercress

Method Preheat the oven to gas 6, elec 200째C, fan 180째C. Cook the barley in a large pan of water following the packet instructions.

Meanwhile, in a medium roasting tin, toss the carrots with the olive oil, cumin seeds, cinnamon and orange zest. Roast for 15 minutes, or until tender and golden.

Stir the orange juice, extra-virgin olive oil, parsley, carrots and mackerel through the cooked barley. To serve, arrange the watercress on a serving platter and top with the salad. www.realfood.tesco.com

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Anyone for Pimm’s ?

Pimm’s is Britain's number one summer drink but why stop at drinking it, these refreshing desserts will prove a firm favourite at any Al Frescoe party.

Ingredients

Pimm’s Popsicles

1/2 cup lemon juice 1/3 cup lime juice 1 cup water 1/3 cup ginger syrup (recipe follows) 1/4 cup Pimm's Cucumber, thinly sliced Strawberries, hulled and quartered Fresh mint leaves Ginger Syrup: 1 cup water 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup sliced ginger, peeled

Method

Combine lemon juice, lime juice, water, ginger syrup and Pimm's.

Add a mixture of sliced cucumbers, strawberries and fresh mint into each popsicle mold cavity. Fill popsicle molds with Pimm's mixture. Insert wooden stick into molds. Freeze for at least 6 hours until solid.

To make ginger syrup: combine water, sugar and ginger in a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Once sugar has dissolved, remove from heat. Allow ginger to steep for one hour until mixture has cool to room temperature. Chill until ready to use. www.thelittleepicurean.com 48

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Strawberry Pimms Trifle Ingredients

1 (450g) punnet of strawberries 4 tbsp sugar 1/2 lemon 1 sprig of mint 1 bottle of Pimm's 250ml double cream 125g mascarpone 2 tbsp strawberry jam 1 packet of sponge fingers or 1 madeira cake loaf

Ingredients

Method

Use 3/4 of the strawberries and prepare a coulis: slice thinly then add into a saucepan with 1 tbsp of sugar and the juice from the lemon and the sprig of mint.

Add a tbsp of Pimm's.

Slowly poach the strawberries so that they let out their juice; you don't want to mash them. Stir carefully to coat all the fruit in the juice and Pimm's mixture.

Simmer gently to allow the fruit/ liquid mixture to reduce slightly, then take off the heat and drain the juices into a jug. To this jug, add another tbsp of Pimm's and stir.

Beat the double cream until it forms soft peaks, then add 2 tbsp of Pimm's and beat in the mascarpone. When the mix is combined, warm the strawberry jam in the microwave for 30 secs, and fold in 3 tbsp of jam so you get a ripple effect Start to put the trifle together by layering a glass dish or individual glasses with sponge fingers. If you're using madeira cake, cut 1cm thick slices. When the bottom of the dish is lined, drizzle the Pimm's/strawberry juice mixture to soak the sponge. Spoon over a layer of strawberries (to add interesting texture, you could slice some extra strawberries and add in at this point).

Spread a layer of the mascarpone/cream mixture. Repeat with another sponge layer and so on until you reach the top of the bowl. The last layer should be a layer of cream/mascarpone.

To finish, take the rest of the strawberries and slice thinly.

Carefully layer these over the top of the trifle to cover the entire top. Warm through a tablespoon of jam, then brush this on the top. Put the container in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour.

200g (2 cups) strawberries 30ml (1/8 cup) Pimm’s Cup Liqueur 240ml (1 cup) coconut cream, chilled, for whipping 1 tablespoon sugar 100g (2 cups, packed) raw spinach 1 x 400ml can full-fat coconut milk, chilled ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 280g (2 ½ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon bicarb (baking) soda 4 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon salt

Pimm’s Strawberry and Spinach Shortcakes with Coconut Cream Method

Preheat oven to 220C/425F/Gas . Hull the strawberries and slice thickly. Pour the Pimms over the strawberries and leave in the fridge to infuse while making the shortcake.

Whip the chilled coconut cream with the sugar until creamy.

Refrigerate to firm up until ready to use.

Steam or simmer the spinach for a few minutes until wilted. Refresh by running under cold water, drain, squeeze out any excess water and puree with a hand-held stick blender or food processor.

Stir the puree and vanilla into the chilled coconut milk. Set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, bicarb of soda, sugar and salt together in a bowl. Add the coconut mixture and mix gently until just combined. Spoon the thick batter into an ungreased 8” square or round baking pan, spread to the edges and cook for 15-18 minutes. Allow to cool slightly in the pan, then turn onto a wire rack to cool.

Cut the cake into squares or rounds as desired and slice each one horizontally. Spread the whipped coconut cream between the slices, topped with the strawberries and drizzled with the Pimm’s/strawberry juice. Serve immediately. www.veggiedesserts.co.uk

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Pudding Nights

17th June, 22nd July, 26th August £16 for a main course and as many desserts as you can squeeze in

Chinese Night 24th June £20 per person

Gourmet Night 1st July £50 per person

Free Wine Tasting in our Marquee 8th July Book a table in the restaurant after your tasting

Quiz Night

5th August £10 entry to include dinner & the chance to win a £50 voucher

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

INTERIORS

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marksandspencer

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Picnic

Posh up your

Take your pick of one of these perfect picnic hampers and be the envy of everyone

Amazon Print Hamper £70 House of Fraser

Ahoy Picnic Hamper £75 Laura Ashley

Striped Wicker Hamper £46 BHS

Aston Martin Picnic Hamper £2,950 www.luxedeco.com

Joules Floral Picnic Hamper £89.95 John Lewis

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Huntsman Picnic Basket £339, www.candleandblue.co.uk

Nautical Picnic hamper £59.50 M&S

Wine Flap Hamper £46 BHS

Love Picnic Hamper £65

Picnic Hamper £70 House of Fraser

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Sit on it

Enjoy outdoor dining in style with our favourite picnic blankets

Blanket £35 Seasalt Cornwall

Horse Picnic Blanket £35 Sophie Allport Tropical Picnic Rug £8 Sainsbury's Home

Dachsies Picnic Blanket £36 Milly Green

Polka Dot Blanket £6 Tiger Stores

Buttercup Blanket £94

Strope Picnic Blanket £20 M&Co

Picnic Rug £99 The British Blanket Co

Tweedmill Picnic Blanket £59.95 Black by Design Ltd

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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

• 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

Fry’s Footie Corner

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The European Championships in France start this month and believe it or not, I really feel we have a good chance this year. We have a lot of young players who will play without fear. Normally we go into these tournaments and our expectations as supporters are very high and we always feel we have been let down.

However, I feel with this tournament, manager Roy Hodgson has picked a nice blend of youth and more experienced players and I have had a go at picking my starting line-up. It is difficult though. Potentially the only position in which there is no doubt is in between the sticks where Joe Hart will start, simply because he is our best goalkeeper.

At left-back there is a bit of a decision to make. Leighton Baines has been out for so long and he hasn’t hit the ground running when he has returned, so I believe Danny Rose should get this particular berth in the team. He has had an excellent campaign with Tottenham Hotspur and his closest challenger for me is Ryan Bertrand at Southampton.

In terms of the central defenders, we are a bit restricted in this area. I don’t they are the best two centre backs personally, I would have taken John Terry, I still believe he is the best defender we have in the Premier

League, but for whatever reason, he hasn’t been selected.

At right-back, I can’t see Roy changing his line-up so Nathaniel Clyne will start in this position with Kyle Walker offering back up. I would play a diamond formation. That means we have a sitting midfielder man. Eric Dier is actually the only consideration for the centre back pairing, when he has played there he has done well in that position, but I think in front of the back four, he is the only player who can play that position naturally.

I will leap forward to the front two, because that is an easy selection for me, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.

They are a breath of fresh air. Harry has been brilliant for two seasons now, he leads the line very well and can score all types of goals. Jamie will cause plenty of problems with the style that he goes about his business.

He won’t give any defender a moment’s piece.

I think Wayne Rooney needs to play behind those front two in the number 10 position. There is no doubt in my mind about that. Some people wouldn’t even take him to the Euros, but he is a class act and for me, you need those types of players who can pick a pass and who can score a goal and he fits the bill.

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That leaves two central midfielders, Dele Alli fits the bill for the right side.

He has had a magnificent season with Tottenham, I think he is a box to box midfielder, he plays with no fear and has scored some unbelievable games. The other position is a challenge, Jack Wilshire hasn’t really been fit enough for me, if he had played a lot of games then I think he would be the ideal man, but for me, it would be a gamble to play him. The others are a much of a muchness. I would have liked to have seen Mark Noble at West Ham United selected after such a good campaign, but he hasn’t been named in the party to travel.

Wayne Rooney could play in that role I guess and allow Barkley to play in that number 10 position, but I am not too sure we want him that deep.

Wayne needs to be influential if we are to be successful. He is the best finisher in the squad.

James Milner would give you the work rate and keep you the ball and he can get into wide positions to cause problems, so he is a good option. I think it would be a toss-up between Milner and Barkley. Let’s hope Roy gets it right!

Barry Fry

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Simply the best Father’s Day Gifts Tresor Paris Vega Rose Gold Cufflinks £67

Dark Matter Spiced Rum, £35.99 amazon.co.uk

Tresor Paris Vega Stainless Steel Money Clip £47

Hammond & Co. by Patrick Grant Shirt, £36, Debenhams

Police Armor Watch £129, watchshop.com

Haig Club Whisky £45 Selfridges

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Kindle Oasis, with Walnut Cover - £269.99 Amazon.co.uk Jimmy Choo Man £62 Debenhams

The Snaffling Pig Pork Scratchings £15.99 firebox.com

London Gin Truffles, £13 .amazon.co.uk

Peanut Butter & Jam Old Fashioned £39.99 firebox.com

Mr Quintessential August Polo Indigo £130

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The Way You Make Me Feel Expect your favourite songs delivered by an exceptionally talented cast and band, including: I Want You Back, ABC, Can You Feel It, Off The Wall, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean, Dirty Diana, Bad, Rock With You, They Don’t Care About Us, Dangerous, Thriller, plus many more!

A,B,C...it’s easy as 1,2,3, if you’re a Michael Jackson fan you’ll love this show that takes you on a visual, audio and electrifying journey through the magic of Michael’s 45 year musical history, you will experience over two hours of non-stop hits from pop to rock, soul to disco.

After opening in the Lyric Theatre in London on 2 January 2009 to rave reviews, Thriller Live has embarked on a world tour and a sell-out UK arena tour, played over 3000 shows globally to 3 million fans, visited over 30 countries and entered the West end record books by becoming the longest running show in the Lyric Theatre’s 125 year history.

Now in its record breaking 8th year, THRILLER LIVE is a spectacular concert, created to celebrate the career of the world’s greatest entertainer, and one that will have you singing long after you’ve left the theatre.

Mon 4th – Sat 9th July Milton Keynes Theatre 0844 8717652 www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Paying homage to Jackson’s legendary live performances and innovative dance moves executed with flair, precision and passion, this is a show that you will never forget.

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Elemis Deep Tissue Massage

A

therapist worked her magic, the pressure was just right and I could feel the tension melt away as she used blends of Essential Oils which were targeted to my own individual needs and thus helped towards reducing my stress.

Focusing primarily on my back, shoulders and neck area, I could feel myself drifting into a sleep like trance as the muscle tension slowly slipped away, my only criticism is I wanted it to go on forever!

visit to the spa is not always about her, sometimes men need a little pampering too and with Father’s Day fast approaching why not give your dad something a little different and treat him to a day at Whittlebury Hall Hotel and Spa with the added extra of an Elemis Deep Tissue Massage.

I sent my hubby along to see what he thought.

After experiencing the unique heat and ice experiences in the spa (a selection of hot and cold experiences), it was time for my treatment; II headed upstairs into the quiet relaxing waiting area where I enjoyed a cool glass of fruit infused water before being called by my therapist and taken into the peaceful treatment room.

Afterwards I felt refreshed and rejuvenated ready to reconnect with the everyday stress and strains that life throws at me, but I am sure if I have a massage like this every few weeks I’ll be able to cope far better!

Elemis Deep Tissue Massage £49 for 25 minutes Whittlebury Hall Hotel & Spa 0845 400 0002 www.whittleburyhall.co.uk

This massage had promised to alleviate stress and ease aching muscles and I certainly needed that! I had been working flat out and my body and muscles were tired and aching – the

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Great Music

Three Days of

H

ave you got your tickets for the three great music events happening in Bedford Park in August? We have and we can’t wait!

Youtube with their own DIY webisodes, which got the attention of Roughcut, the producers of The Office. Shortly after a pilot was picked

by BBC3, this received a m a s s i v e response and Kurupt FM had instantly gained a cult following.

Friday night (5th August) brings us Dizzee Rascal Having collaborated with the likes of Calvin Harris, Arctic Monkeys and Florence & the Machine, Dizzee has evolved from his grime and garage roots into the mainstream scene, which has found him featured on the bill for festivals like Glastonbury and Radio 1 Big Weekend numerous times.

W i l e y , (English Grime MC and Rapper who is often referred to as the ‘Godfather of Grime’ while also releasing mainstream singles, such as the top 10 hits ‘Wearing My Rolex’, ‘Never’ Be Your Woman and his UK number one ‘Heatwave’.)

Jaguar Skills (Honing his craft and love of music for the last 20 years, Jag has remained true to his school and kept a mysterious edge to his character; with details of his real name, age and home town etc left largely unconfirmed…

One thing is known though. He has been responsible for some of the most exciting musical projects of the past few years.)

His huge hits include ‘I Luv U’ and Fix Up Look Sharp, which went straight into the UK top 20 single charts. As well as his number 1 hit ‘Dance Wiv Me’ featuring Calvin Harris.

Supporting Dizzee will be Kurupt FM, (Starting out on 64

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And finally, ‘it’s not unusual’ to get a little excited that the ‘Sex Bomb’ himself, Sir Tom Jones will be performing on the Sunday evening (7th August) where there’s sure to be some ‘Love in the Air’ as he wows us with hits such as ‘Delilah’, ‘What’s New Pussycat’ and ‘Green Green Grass of Home’.

Tom has always been about the power of the voice, the power of the song – Tom is indeed a living legend, one of the few musical artists whose profession began at the dawn of modern popular music who continues to have a vital recording and performing career to this day.

Ms Dynamite (Rapper, songwriter, recording artist, producer Ms Dynamite is the recipient of the Mercury prize, winner of two Brit awards and three Mobo awards.)

Hailing from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, The Shires are set to warm up the Bedford crowd and open the show for what will be an electric night of fantastic music from, not only one of the greatest entertainers in the world, but some home grown talent.

With this fab line up we don’t think Dizzee will need to ask the crowd to “Dance Wiv Me!” Saturday night (6th August) is back to the traditional and it’s Proms in The Park, featuring Classical Brit Award winning group ‘Blake’ and Soprano ‘Rebecca Newman’ as well as the renowned London Gala Orchestra and the Bedford Choral Society – the night is full of spectacular music, stunning fireworks and a fabulous laser show – this is a date in your diary that you don’t want to miss!

Tickets for all events are available from www.bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk and priced at £35 (Dizzie Rascal), £31 (Bedford Proms) and £45 (Tom Jones). VIP experiences are available as well as concessions for children.

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TRAVEL

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India’s Golden Triangle Discover India with Voyages Jules Verne

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For many, recent images of The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge set against glorious backdrops such as the Taj Mahal and Tiger’s Nest cannot have failed to stir an interest in the Indian Sub-Continent - whether you have yet to experience its myriad delights or are keen to visit again. Specialist tour operator, Voyages Jules Verne, now adds to this travel temptation with the publication of a new brochure, India & Beyond - a collection of cultural tours departing between now and December 2017.

Described by Mark Twain as “the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen it once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for the shows of all the rest of the world combined”, the Indian Sub-Continent remains as alluring today as ever it was. From the temples of Varanasi, the marble fortresses of Delhi and the wildlife-rich national parks of Ranthambore and Kaziranga to the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, the palm-fringed beaches of Sri Lanka and the Himalayan splendour of Bhutan and Nepal, this is a region that has to be seen to be believed.

For those that have yet to experience the delights of this amazing country there is the India’s Golden Triangle: A nine-night tour staying in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra that encompasses all the major sights a first-time visitor would expect - including the Taj Mahal, the palace at Amber and Jaipur’s amazing astronomical Observatory - interwoven with experiences that transport its participants closer to the heart of the country. Enjoy lunch at the Patan Mahal Palace, a cooking demonstration and dinner with a local family, a rooftop dinner with dance and music, and so much more.

With over 35 years’ experience in offering escorted tours to India, both first-time travellers and repeat visitors can be assured of an exceptional holiday to India with Voyages Jules Verne.

BOOK IT! Departing 23 July, 20 August, 24 September, 8 & 22 October, 5 & 19 November and 3 & 17 December 2016, and throughout 2017, prices are from £1,295 pp (no single supplement on selected departures, subject to availability) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, eight nights’ B&B, one lunch, four dinners, excursions, and the services of guides and local representatives. www.vjv.com

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Majestic Elegance at Queens Hotel in Cheltenham

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Situated in the heart of Cheltenham, Queens Hotel offers a truly majestic setting with its décor and architecture encapsulating all the elegance, heritage and grandeur of the neoclassical era - complemented by all the contemporary features you need in a modern hotel.

The hotel first opened its doors in 1838, and was later listed as a Grade II building in acknowledgement of its opulent design and period details. Having recently gone through an extensive refurbishment it is now part of the boutique MGallery by Sofitel Collection.

Walking into this Regency building, the first thing you notice is how friendly and helpful the staff are, all the time with smiles on their faces, the art deco grandeur of the lobby, glides gracefully into the Lounge area with it’s greys and blues encompassing a calm cosy area for enjoying tea, coffee or Afternoon Tea. Our room, an exquisite suite, was full of luxury - a combination of modern comfort and period style, with large windows that overlooked Imperial Square, it certainly was fit for a Queen! The bathroom was a room in itself with a roll top free standing bath, opulent décor and the fait accompli the huge shower area that was wallpapered with a waterproof print based on an original etching of the building; the whole suite was just perfect so instead of enjoying our ‘Chelspa’ we had it in our room, as we whiled the time away admiring the views and people watching out of the large windows.

Whoops sorry I realise you have no idea what a ‘Chelspa’ is – it’s not some new massage technique it is actually the hotel’s signature cocktail – a combination of Siblings gin, elderflower cordial, sugar syrup, muddled cucumber and lime and, in true James Bond style, shaken not stirred!

Cheltenham has many bars and restaurants, but I think you’ll be hard pressed to find any as fine as the Sherborne Pump Bar, where we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks; an intimate bar

with clear signs of a Regal past including the listed solid wooden bar, a gift from India to Lord Napier and The Orangery Restaurant, with fresh quality sourced foods adorning the menu.

Our meal was divine, beginning with wild mushroom risotto, and beef Carpaccio, followed by roasted salmon fillet and seared guinea fowl, all dishes were beautifully presented and full of flavour – finishing this superb meal we chose pear cheesecake and treacle tart followed by coffee (and of course tea for me). In summer the Orangery Restaurant extends into the garden, so you can enjoy your meal Al Fresco.

After a blissful nights sleep we awoke to yet again discover fresh delicious food, this time in the guise of breakfast. Nothing is left to chance here and it is the finishing touches that make Queens Hotel stand out, showcasing their Regal heritage whenever they can. On the breakfast menu is ‘Queens’ K-Ration’, which is reminiscent of when the hotel was home to American servicemen during the Second World War. While on the front line, each would have been issued with a ration pack known fondly as a K-Ration. Today, a rather more indulgent ‘ration’ includes Chef’s recipe Eggs Benedict, granary toast and finest butter, a deluxe granola bar, an energy-packed fruit and nut bar and chilled mineral water.

Everything at Queens Hotel is done with pride and passion and this is evident in the building, the décor, finishing touches and staff – I certainly know where I’ll be staying on my next visit to Cheltenham!

BOOK IT: Prices start from £130 for a Superior Room including breakfast for 2 people in June. Prices start from £261 for a Renascence Deluxe Suite including breakfast for 2 people in June. www.sofitel.com

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STARS

Manish Kumar Arora (K.P. Astrologer, Numerologist, Tarot Card Reader & Vastu Consultant) reveals what’s in store for you this month

Gemini (21 May – 20 June) You are facing some fluctuations and instability in your career, now it is time to follow something secure. It would prove a good month to boost your skills and enhance your knowledge. You should remain focused on those things that bring happiness, and adapt change and explore possibilities The love horoscope will be quite good for those who are single. Since you tend to be good at relationships, it will be the time when you will meet a special being too.

Favourable Dates: June 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23 Favourable Colours: Red & White

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Cancer (21 June – 22 July) You should think about partaking in activities where people are offering you options this month. They just might be full of great ideas – ones you may not have thought of yourself. You might just receive the recognition for all the hard work you have been putting in. You may be a little more emotional than usual. If you have something on your chest, now would be a good time to get it off and share what you’re really feeling. You will be tempted but keep your head balanced.

Favourable Dates: June 1, 9, 10, 18, 19, 27 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Blue

this month you will become lucky and you will get caught in a new relationship.

Favourable Dates: June 2, 3, 10, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

Capricorn (22 December – 19 January) There are a lot of things that are motivating you. Get focused and make an agenda – a big one Put great ideas into action and you will operate like a well-oiled machine. Opportunities and new multiple levels are there which should be taken advantage of. Now would be a wonderful time to experiment. Be sure you have all the facts and pertinent information before making any major decisions. You will find it easy to move forward with confidence. Keep your goal in sight and take stock of your progress every now and then.

Favourable Dates: June 3, 5, 12, 14, 21, 23 Favourable Colours: Red & Black

Leo (23 July – 22 August) You may become more aware of the insight needed to transform your life and elevate yourself to the position you’ve been working so hard to achieve. Abstain from affirming to simply please others. An adaptable state of mind to money can help you grab a surprising open door. Love for the most part has a fun loving in the minute quality so stay focussed on the present. If you are thinking of an addition to the family, then there should be no delay at all, as it will be the good time for sure.

Favourable Dates: June 1, 2, 10, 11, 19, 20 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Purple

Aquarius (20 January – 18 February) This month will be embracing for you in many aspects. You will be serious about your sentiment and the pure determination will provide you the right nuts and bolts to build up steam.

After the 16th of the month it will be easier for you to channel your ambition and go full throttle to really make things happen.

You won’t follow a well beaten path but you will do what works best for you. You can be defensive of your inward circle so be particular about who you need to invest energy with.

Favourable Dates: June 5, 8, 14, 17, 23, 26 Favourable Colours: Blue & Yellow

Virgo (23 August – 22 September) You likely will have a large amount of work ahead of you to complete in a short amount of time. Obligations at home may weigh heavily on your heart and mind. It may be a good time to sit down and have a heart to heart with someone and once things are out in the open, it should be easier for you to stand your ground. Where friendships are concerned, you should try to focus on the existing friends rather than making new ones.

Favourable Dates: June 1, 3, 10, 12, 19, 21 Favourable Colours: Yellow & Red

Pisces (19 February – 20 March) You are going to feel the need to make some pretty drastic changes. These are incredible dates to put forth a striking expression about how you feel, or to make the first stride in dating or relationship circumstances. You should expect a few surprises forming this month, pleasant ones at that.

Confidential procedures and understandings might prove to be much more efficient than obvious, loud manifestations. You will be financially stable and moreover you will make a number of decisions those would be powerful.

Favourable Dates: June 2, 3, 11, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: Red & Yellow

Libra (23 September – 22 October) This month will bring you in a personality that you want to be.

You will feel yourself more applicable and practical in the first half of the month. Loved ones may feel neglected but they will be understanding, if you just let them know what your focus is at the moment. Conservation with spending habits will help to reduce a possible very embarrassing financial matter later this month. It may be a test of your emotional strength because right now you are likely to be a little more sensitive than usual.

Favourable Dates: June 2, 3, 10, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: White & Grey

Aries (21 March – 19 April) It is a great time for you to be productive. Focusing your energy in the work world may be extremely beneficial right now. You need to stay determined, enjoy the fortune and never overindulge. You will also make creative outlets and see what benefits your business. You will probably stay at top speed well up to the third week of June. There are chances to get your life partner or you will get in a casual relationship. Just enjoy your life and all circumstances.

Favourable Dates: June 4, 7, 13, 16, 22, 25 Favourable Colours: Green & White

Scorpio (23 October – 21 November) Your area of life would be survived around romance and love and you can implement a number of changes according to your desire in that area. Your skill will help you to build new relationships and take the existing ones to a newer level indeed. The creative part within you will help to improve the romance with your partner. Spending too much time with colleagues or sharing in gossip may cause problems at work.

For you to benefit you need to keep focus at the task at hand and leave it at that.

Favourable Dates: June 2, 3, 10, 12, 20, 21 Favourable Colours: White & Grey

Sagittarius (22 November - 21 December) This month will be financially rewarding for you. You need to consider your investment plans and deliberate the best future scenario accordingly. If wise financial decisions are taken, there will be a lasting benefit for many years ahead. You will get to know some tricks, through which you can make a handsome amount. You will pay all your debts and start to earn more money in a well mannered way. If you are not in a relationship

Taurus (20 April – 20 May) You will feel secure and protected in your career; and will become more confident in planning for long-term projects. You will likely feel new changes in the area of your career and this will pave the way for a fresh new start. Perhaps it’s a promotion, a new location or a whole new direction. This might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. It’s a great time to be innovative and put plans into action. Ambitions will be running high so make clear plans for the near future.

Favourable Dates: June 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23 Favourable Colours: Red & Blue

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manishastroconsultant manish@manishastrologer.com

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A quiet night in...

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben In Fool Me Once, Coben once again outdoes himself.

Former special ops pilot Maya, home from the war, sees an unthinkable image captured by her nanny cam while she is at work: her two-year-old daughter playing with Maya’s husband, Joe—who had been brutally murdered two weeks earlier. The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to? To find the answer, Maya must finally come to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past before she can face the unbelievable truth about her husband—and herself. Filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense and gut-wrenching emotion, this book is a real page turner.

Money Monster Lee Gates (George Clooney) is the host of a high-rated financial programme on TV, offering tips to its money-hungry viewers.

But when one viewer, Kyle Budwell (Jack O'Connell), loses all his money due to one of Gates' tips, things soon take a turn for the worse for the well-to-do TV presenter.

Budwell manages to take over the studio, and during a tense standoff broadcast to millions on live TV, he orders Gates to find out what happened. The answer, it seems, points to a conspiracy at the heart of today's fast-paced, high-tech global markets.

Release Date: 27th May

Dad’s Army Set in 1944 as the Second World War reaches its climax, the Allies are poised to invade France and finally defeat the German army. But in Walmington-onSea morale amongst the Home Guard, led by Captain Mainwaring, is low. So their new mission, to patrol the Dover army base, is a great chance to revive spirits and reputation – until glamorous journalist Rose Winters arrives to write about their exploits. MI5 then discover a radio signal sent direct to Berlin from Walmington-on-Sea, sparking rumours of a spy and – with the outcome of the war suddenly at stake – it falls to the veteran servicemen to step up.

Release Date: 13th June 74

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AFFINITY LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FREE www.affinitymag.co.uk

June 2016

JUNE 2016 ISSUE 61

Festival Fever

What to wear

Happy Hair The latest products for your hair

Summer Dining

All about Al Fresco

Just for Him Gifts he’ll love this Father’s Day