Alpha student magazine

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FRE

A H P L

E

ssex’s

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t n e d u t s r e b num zine

1

maga

January 2012

6 Steps to a

6

pack

20 Minute

Cookbook

Winter Fashion

Advice

What’s on this

month

WIN

Brand New Acoustic Guitar

worth over £100, courtesy of PMT!

-------------------------------------------------------

10% Discount given with Student ID Card all year.

Claim a FREE Topping with this Voucher!

2

C NTENTS Win a Guitar

6 8 12

9

20 minute student cookbook

10

13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Winter Fashion

What’s on 6 steps to a 6 pack Why berries are a

must have accessory this month

Become a Triathlete

Learning to Drive?

We have hand picked two of the best driving schools in the area for you to learn with, for more information go to page 7 for Karen’s School of Motoring, and page 11 for Wickford Driving School.

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2012 The world drowned in apocalyptic floods, walloped by a secret planet, seared by an angry sun. Welcome to 2012, the year it all ends, according to Mayan prophecy at least.

Because, quite clearly, a tribe that worship maize (grains we now use to make cous cous, among other things) are so scientifically advaced, they spot an unfathomable natural disaster 5125.37 years in the future. Our weather men and women clearly need to update their technology.

Christians, Jews, scientists, astrologers, world leaders and business people all have their own views on what will happen and how. Talk of‘Planet X’, ‘Galactic Alignments’ and ‘Breakaway Continents’ are becoming the norm, even though all these come with not one shred of evidence to support them. What can we take from this though?

Nothing really, apart from an adjusted perception on the year ahead.

We understand that one or two mystics and/or hypochondriacs amongst you will truly believe the world is due to end - and that’s fine. Whether or not you believe the hype, spend this year like it truly is the last one you will get. And when December 21st hits - party on long into the morning and celebrate the fact that the world is just as beautiful as it was the same time last year.

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5

WIN

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Acou

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Is music a big part of your life? If so, we need people like you in this month’s writing competition. Simply write to us, 500 words or less, on one of the topics below. The top articles will be published in the next issue of Alpha, and our favourite will win this fantastic, brand new acoustic guitar.

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00 co

urtes

uitar

y of P

MT!

- The person who has influenced your life most through music.

- Your opinion on the modern day music scene and how it compares to another era of your choice.

- Who you think is the greatest musician(s) of all time and why.

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Please email all entries to JTBolding@aol.com

Karen’s School of Motoring has been established since 1996, growing rapidly through the years to become one of the largest independant driving schools in Essex with an excellent pass rate.

One of the main advantages of Karen’s is that it is built on a network of highly experienced male and female driving instructors who provide driving lessons in local areas, including, Baslidon, Grays, Southend-on-Sea, Romford and Wickford.

What we love about Karen’s is how relaxed and down to earth the instructors are, how they make every one of their students feel comfortable and at ease, and therefore a better, safer driver.

But don’t just take our word for it - here are some testimonials of real students who passed with Karen’s;

“Thank you very much Steve for being so patient with me and thank you very much for all your good advice and experience. You are an angel!!!”

Marie, Baslidon “I passed both my theory and practical tests first time in just 9 weeks. I owe it to Steve otherwise I never would have done it. Very patient and thorough with his explanators. Overall a quality instructor. Thanks again Steve.”

Dan, Tilbury “Extremely pleased I passed first time. Heather was always very understanding and patient, would highly recommend to other people.”

Ashleigh, Tilbury “I would like to say a huge thank you to Karens driving school and especially my instructor Michael. He was very patient and an excellent teacher and instructor. He made sure I was fully prepared to pass and provided lots of encouragement and support throughout.”

Jo, Tilbury

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20 Minute Cookbook

If you’re sick of living off cheese

on toast, microwave lasagne and supernoodles, now is the time to act.

Chilli Beef Stir Fry (serves 4)

Quick, happy and wholesome, just watch your guests beaming with delight as you serve up this sweet and spicy Asian sensation. Just make sure they do their bit and wash up.

On your plate in: 14 minutes

Approx cost per person: £1.70 You will need: 500g beef, diced 500g egg noodles 2 tbsp cornflour 5cm knob of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped 3/4 red chillis, (for medium heat) seeds removed, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 3 red peppers, cut into chunks 2 medium onions, diced 3 tbsp light soy sauce 2tbsp vegetable stock 1 lime

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With our 20 minute cookbook, you can eat good food, quickly and cheaply.

Check out our recipes below, with more to come next time.

1) Toss the beef slices in the cornflour and set aside.

2) Heat a wok over a high heat with 2tbsp vegetable oil and heat until smoking. Add the garlic, ginger and red chilli and stir quickly for a few seconds so the do not burn. Now add the beef slices and stir fry until brown on the outside but still nice and pink in the middle - this shouldn’t take long. Drain off the excess liquid, and transfer the contents of the wok to a plate and put to one side.

3) Heat the remaining 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a wok, add the red pepper and onion and stir fry for around 4 minutes so that the vegetables stay crisp.

4. Add the beef and the egg noodles to the wok and stir to mix with the red peppers and onions. Cook for another 2 minutes.

5. Finally pour in the soy sauce and vegetable stock, and squeeze over the juice of a lime. Allow to simmer until the liquid starts to bubble. Serve and enjoy.

Warm Chicken Avocado Salad (serves 4) Fresh, healthy, and packed with protein, this chicken and avocado salad makes a delicious light lunch or evening meal.

The creaminess of the avocado works beautifully with the hot chicken and the tanginess of the apple.

On your plate in: 16 minutes

Approx cost per person: £2.45 You will need: 4 chicken breasts, or if you’re in a rush, 1 large ready cooked chicken 2 ripe avocados, stoned, peeled and chopped 2 tbsp sunflower seeds 1 Granny Smith Apple 200g fine green beans 25g blue cheese (e.g Saint Agur, Danish Blue) 100g low fat natural yoghurt 2 tbsp green top milk

1) If you are using chicken breasts, heat a pan to a high heat with a little olive oil.

Slice the meat and add to the pan, and stir fry for about 6 minutes, making sure to check the biggest chunk of chicken is fully cooked through. If you are using ready cooked chicken, shred it with a fork, making sure you get all the meat.

2) Meanwhile, cook the green beans in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until tender, yet still crisp. Drain and set aside.

3) Break up the blue cheese in a bowl. Add the yoghurt, milk and a little black pepper and mix well until smooth 4) Toss the lettuce, chopped avocado and the apple in a bowl with the green beans and sunflower seeds. Add the hot chicken, mix together then transfer to individual dishes.

Lightly drizzle on the blue cheese dressing and serve!

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Quick Banoffee Pie (serves 4)

Although we are cheating slightly with this one, as it needs a bit of time to set in the fridge, we’re sure you will forgive us once you tuck into the gorgeous layers of cream, biscuit and caramel this super quick Banoffee Pie has to offer.

Not the kindest on your waistline, but who doesn’t deserve a treat every once in a while?

In the fridge in: 8 minutes

Approx cost per person: £0.80

You will need: 225g digestive biscuits 115g butter, melted 220g ready-made caramel 4 bananas 300ml whipping cream 1 tbsp icing sugar Grated chocolate for decoration

1) Smash the biscuits in a bowl and mix well with the butter. Place this in the freezer for 2 minutes to allow it to set.

2) Remove dish from the fridge, and pour the caramel over the base. Slice the bananas and chuck them on top.

3) Whip the cream in a bowl until you make soft peaks. Stir in the icing sugar, and spread all over the pie.

4) Sprinkle the grated chocolate on top, and place in the fridge for an hour before serving.

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Some Advice

From the Experts Wickford driving school have kindly given us the following advice for students looking to take their test: Always check your mirrors and if necessary indicate before stopping or moving off during your driving test. Look carefully over both shoulders to check your blind spots. Failure to do so could result in you failing your test.

0800 0731553 07904 895169

Use your mirrors before you change speed (up or down), change gear, stop or move and whenever you change direction in your driving test.

Do not stop at every junction during your driving test unless it is necessary. For example, if you stop at a roundabout when it’s obvious that it is clear to go and there are other cars following you, you could recieve a serious fault for hesitancy and therefore fail the test. However where the road sign tells you to “Stop”, you must do so.

If you have to overtake cyclists during your driving test, give them plenty of clearance (about the width of an average sized car).

Don’t follow them too closely.

When reversing, look over your left shoulder through the rear windscreen, and keep looking round for road users.

If another vehicle approaches while you’re performing the Turn in the Road (three-point turn) during your driving test, don’t panic. If it’s clear that he is waiting for you, continue calmly with your manoeuvre. Otherwise wait until they drive past you before proceeding.

Don’t panic if you make a mistake during your driving test. The examiner will not automatically fail you. Remain calm and move on.

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Winter Fashion We all know as teenage girls that sometimes our funds don’t always go in the right places and we find it hard to find clothes that are both fashionable and affordable - so to help you out, here are a few recommendations to keep you looking stylish this winter

on a

Budget

1) jumper A beautiful wooly or cardigan.

Top Tips: Thick Knit cardigans are bang on trend at the moment and in most shops come in a range of colours. For the winter, try and pick warm tones and flattering styles

Bargain TK Maxx £16.99

Reasonable New Look £24.99

Splash Out Topshop £48.00

Bargain H&M £14.99

Reasonable New Look £19.99

Splash Out River Island £40.00

2) Ajeans pair of stylish Top Tips: Look for good quality denim and be adventurous with styles and colours. It’s always important to pick the style that suits you and avoid skinny jeans that are too tight to even walk in!

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3) Acoat. luxurious winter Top Tips: Always buy something that will keep you warm, no boyfriends needed! Faux fur is in at the moment and with many coats a fur collar is removable. Parkas and Macs are always in fashion and are great for everyday use. Pick a style that accentuates your waist and doesn’t make you look like a hippo.

Bargain Boohoo.com £35.00

Reasonable New Look £39.00

Splash Out Miss Selfridge £85.00

Bargain Asos.com £7.99

Reasonable H&M £59.99

Splash Out Topshop £75.00

4) Real Leather Boots Top Tips: Although real leather is expensive, you can’t beat it for winter. It will keep your feet much warmer and last much longer, so is great for those snowy winter walks

5) Cosy Scarves Top Tips: Make sure your scarf goes with your complexion and your winter coat. Thick Knit and Faux Fur are defiantly in at the moment and don’t be afraid to go for patterns.

Bargain New Look £7.99

Reasonable Boohoo.com £15.00

Splash Out Urban Outfitters £28.00

Top Tips for this winter: Don’t be afraid to recycle your summer wardrobe, by layering tops and cardigans. Wooly tights are always a must have and a great match for old summer skirts. Tell your parents you’re done with pyjamas, slippers and selection boxes for christmas and ask for Splash Out items for presents or save up your money.

By Lydia Fraser and Emma O’Hara

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W

HA T’S

Who said the part y season finished when the New Year started?

This month, our tw o favourite nightspots Chamel eon and Sunroom s have loads going on, so you would have to be bonkers to miss ou t!

Chameleon

5-7 Lucy Road, So

uthend

Open every Wedne

sday, Friday and Sat

urday

There’s no doubting Chameleon is one of the best nightclubs in Essex for students.

PLUS OTH

ER DRINK OFFERS : SELECTED £1.50 westons cider pints £2.00 ALL owl cocktails £5 ALL NIGHT NIG DRINKS ALL NIGHT fishb HT selected premium cock tails from

the vip bar 2 FOR 1

ALL NIGHT

5-7 lucy road | sou thend-on-sea | ess ex | ss1 2au | 01702 Management reserve the right of admission 464544 and to withdraw offers witho ut notice

Selected drinks are just £1.50 all night, including beer, wine, shots and jag erbombs! Check the Panic Facebook page for the guest lis t, special offers and general info.

Claim free entry with your student pass on the back of this month’s maga zine.

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‘Panic’, the Friday nig ht out everyone is talking ab out, is an exciting mix of alternative floor fillers Garage, Dubstep, Electro, House, Hip Hop, Punk and some Classi c Dance thrown in as we ll, so there really is somethi ng for everyone. There are 2 floors, both with cracki ng music and intense, pa cked out dancefloors, with resident DJ Ian Punte r and big name guest acts keeping you going un til 3am!

ON

S u n ro o m s 20 -21 Market Pla

ce, Southend

Southend’s best ke pt secret, Sunroom s is a real gem tucked away from the commercial sprawl.

If you’re looking for great mu sic, great atmosphere and loads of exciting people, thi s is the place to be .

Every Monday

Monday Funday Live bands/drink promotions

Every Tuesday

Tuesday Social

Hip Hop/drinks pro

motions

Every Wednesday

Wednesday Club

Open Mic night hoste d by Dave Woodcock

1st Friday of the mo

nth

Rockit

Reggae/New York Block Party Beats/P-Funk

2nd Friday

Los Bastardos

Electric Swing/ Jacking House/Ska

3rd Friday

Sick Bay

Eclectic Sounds fro m Chris Powell

4th Friday Paso Dub

Dubstep/Jungle

1st Saturday of the month FMR Drum n Bass/Jung le

2nd Saturday Urban Allstars

Funk/Northern Soul /Reggae/Trip Hop

3rd Saturday The Kool Kids Klub

Electro/House/Gara ge/ Acid House/Bass/G rime

4th Saturday Deaf & Dumb

Punk/50s and 60s Grot n Roll/Surf/Garage

Last Saturday of the month Sunday Mass (all day party) Deep House/Techn o /Electronic

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6

easy

steps to a

pack

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As guys, we all dream of that killer physique, epitomised by washboard abs like the back of a Stegosaurus.

You do hundreads of sit ups every night, so just why are your abs hiding from you? Our local fitness expert, George Barber, will tell you in this month’s issue just how to get that 6 pack you have so long imagined, and you don’t even need a gym card.

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1)

Burn that belly fat; Even if you have the greatest abs in the world, they will not show through stacks of stubborn belly fat.

We’re not talking pot bellies here, if you can pinch an inch or more of loose skin at the bottom of your stomach by your waistline you have too much of the stuff. Thankfully, it’s just as easy to burn off as it is to pack on.

The basic principle of HIT training is the best in this situation; run, cycle, row or swim at a very high intensity for 2 minutes, rest for 30 seconds, then go again. Repeat this 5 times over and you have your workout. A short, hardcore workout twice a week will spike growth hormone and testosterone levels and mobilise fat stores in your gut.

3)

Lay off the sit ups!

You may look like the next Rocky, but doing sit up after sit up after sit up will get you nowhere. Introduce some variety to your training; range from basic exercises like planking and crunches to more complicated exercises, like the V-shape bridge press up.

With your feet on a swiss ball, extend yourself into a press up position. Perform a press up, then bring your legs into your chest, whilst keeping them on the ball. If you don’t have a swiss ball, try bicycle crunches. Lie on your back, with your hands on the back of your head, and bring up your left leg to meet your right elbow and vice versa. The result should look like a riding a bike, and is a great exercise for carving out rock hard abs. Don’t train every day as well; allow your muscles time to rest, and train every other day instead. Just make sure you hit them even harder each session.

2)

Eat clean and lean; To keep that belly fat away, you need a clean diet; high in protein, low in carbohydrates and virtually free of processed foods. Plenty of chicken,white fish, beef, tuna, eggs and nuts provide high quality protein and try and limit the number of carbohydrates you take on board - things like bread, rice, pasta, cereal etc. Simple things like swapping white bread for wholemeal, or white rice for brown make a world of difference. Try and avoid carbonated and sugary drinks, as they cause bloating and water retention.

4)

Sleep!

Not the most exciting one on the list, but lack of sleep increases levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, which causes the body to retain fat stores on the stomach.

Sleep also provides time for muscle growth and repair and more sleep means more energy for your next workout! Try and aim for at least 8 hours a day and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the new day ahead.

5)

6)

Combine all of these training and diet techniques successfully, and you will be rocking Hollywood abs in no time at all.

Almonds- As well as containing high levels of protein for building and maintaining muscle, magnesium for regulating blood sugar and fibre for digestive health, almonds contain a high level of antioxidants which mobilise fat stores and reduce the amount of free radicals in the body.

Use every muscle Many people when training their abs will only use exercises that are solely focussed on their stomach.

However, to really add muscle to your abs, introduce exercises to your other workout that also involve core strength. Bodyweight exercises such as press ups, pull ups and dips are fantastic for this, as the core is used to maintain balance. Try channelling your centre of gravity into your abs when you do these exercises for that extra burn.

The power 5 Everyone needs a bit of help from time to time, and these 5 magic products will help you show off the fruits of your hard work even better.

Green Tea - increases fat breakdown by a third after meals.

Chilli - Boosts the metablism and reduces sugar cravings Natural yoghurt - studies show that three servings of the white stuff each day obliterate belly fat by up to 81%.

Cinnamon - A 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon with a meal helps prevent a post meal insulin spike, where the body stores fat instead of burning it.

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G irls

Get Berry Cheeky this Month!

P

lanning a healthy new you for the new year? Then what better way to kick-start your new regime than with a handful (or two) of berries - not only do they taste amazing in muffins and in that little compartment at the side of your yoghurt, they offer a wide range of health benefits to help shake off that festive flubber, and get you feeling better than ever in no time at all.

Blueberries

Acai Berries

Bursting with antioxidants, blueberries help to control the levels of free radicals in the body. The high levels of Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Iron help to fight off disease and the Anthocyanin and Vitamin B complex give you amazing looking skin and hair. Blueberries are also scientifically proven to cut belly fat and lower cholestrol and increase brain power throughout the day when eaten first thing in the morning.

Known worldwide as one of the top ‘Superfoods’, Acai comes with a number of health benefits. It is a natural detoxifier, removing harmful substances from your body, meaning less blemishes, a brighter complexion, more energy and, ahem, better sexual performance.

Blackberries

Goji Berries

At just 62 calories oer handful, and with over 50% of your RDA of Vitamin C, Blackberries make the perfect anytime snack. Packed with Polyphenois, they help to maintain a healthy heart and blood stream, and contain Phytoestrogens which are proven to protect against breast and cervical cancers.

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The mother of all berries, Goji is widely considered as the most nutrient dense food around. The high levels of anitoxidants and Vitamin A give you great looking skin and eyes, and the rare amino acids isoleucine and methione greatly improve the immune system.

The berry also stimulates the pituitary gland - which in turn improves memory and focus and reduces body fat. To tell the truth, there isn’t much this berry can’t do!

TRI ATH LONS

A style

LPHA It may sound a fairly daunting prospect, but becoming a triathlete is not as big a task as it may sound. Guys or girls, a seasoned athlete or a first timer, competing in even the smallest of triathlons is the perfect way to beat the winter blues with a rush of endorphins, a hit of adrenaline and a tremendous sense of pride and self achievement.

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T

A

raining for a basic triathlon is fairly straightforward - not easy, but straight forward;

Get up that little bit earlier in the morning and go for a

run, hit the gym after college and get on that bike, or do a few lengths of the pool in the evening. Aim to do each session at least twice a week, and your fitnness levels will go through the roof. Increase the intensity each time, and before you know it, you’ll be itching for your first race.

However, if like us at Alpha you like to do things a

bit differently, then maybe a standard triathlon isn’t for you. You can go all out and attempt the ironman - a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and a leisurely marathon to finish. Lets be honest, unless you’re superhuman, you’re not going to squeeze in a 26 mile run in your free periods.

Which is why we want you to join us at the Trailplus Adventure

Challenge in the beautiful Grizedale Forest, Cumbria. This provides a refreshing change to a triathlon - up to 6 miles of multi terrain adventure running. 15 miles of mountain biking and a mystery water challenge, usually a mix of freshwater swimming and kayaking.

The forest where it is held provides a stunning backdrop to what is an exhilarating event.

Best of all, it is a team sport, so you can guarantee you will have

your friends alongside you the whole way. Even better, it’s held in March, so you have plenty of time to shake off the last of the mince pies and get in shape! You’ll get wet, you’ll get muddy, you’ll definitely get tired - but the feeling of triumph and ecstasy you’ll get when you cross that finish line with your mates either side will be truly amazing.

Interested?

Give us a call and we’ll set you up a team - we’ll fill in the boring paperwork, and even sort your travel and accommodation. If you can, raise some sponsorhsip to help you out - that way, anything left over can go to charity. for more inromation, go to; www.trailplus.co.uk, or call Josh on 07920005493

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A Just don’t do it like this guy...

If you ‘re not feeling too fit, take a leaf out of the book of Mr. Rob Sloan, Alpha Magazine’s Favourite ever marathon runner, who recently claimed a bronze medal in Northumberland’s Kielder Marathon with a time of 2 hours 51 minutes. Impressive right?

We thought so too, until we found out that Rob had actually ran the first 20 miles, and after claiming he felt ‘tired’, hopped on a bus, travelled approximately 4 miles down the road, jumped off again, and emerged through the woods to the finish line! Other racers were left bemused, adamant they had not seen him overtake.

The worst thing is, he would have got away with it had people not started questioning why he was the only person in the whole race to have ran the second half quicker than the first! Race organisers had no choice but to investigate, and although Rob protested his innocence, he was eventually found guilty of vehicle hopping, and the bronze medal was given to its rightful owner, Steven Cairns.

Rob has now been banned from all future UK running events and kicked out of his local running club. Probably for the best, we think.

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Life

skills

Christmas

has been and gone, and I’m sure you’re already considering where to go next in terms of your future. University, further education, training, apprenticeships, work or even travelling - there’s always someone somewhere telling you what you should do next, but just who should you listen to?

The truth is, it’s never been harder than it is now to get a job - over 25% of 16 - 24 years olds are out of education and unemployed, and university fees are at an all time high and don’t look like going down anytime soon.

Dampeners aside, there is something out there that acts as a great step for those looking to make that jump between education and emploment, It’s an organisation called Lifeskills, which we stumbled across recently and were so encouraged by what they do, we felt the need to share it with you guys.

Lifeskills offer a number of different apprenticeships including business Administration, Sales, Management and Customer Service, with a range of big and small companies looking to bring through a new wave of young talent. Voted in the Sunday Times Top 100 companies to work for in 2009, 2010 and 2011, they provide you with a real qualification, a gateway into employment, and £100 a week wages

We think Lifeskills provide fantastic opportunities to progress and develop in your career, especially in the current economic climate when compared with the ‘traditional’ alternatives, so we will be looking to feature much more information in our future issues, if you want to find out more about what they do in the mean time, check out their website, www.learnaliving. co.uk, or use the contact details

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Basildon Office - Faye faye@learnaliving.co.uk

Chelmsford Office - Lisa lisa.etheridge@learnaliving.co.uk

To advertise in future issues of Alpha Magazine, please call;

07920005493 This publication was Produced by The High Street Printer, part of the Flyermax Group. Designed with great care by Nathan Salmon.

www.highstreetprinters.co.uk

SELECTED £1.50HT DRINKS ALL NIG

PLUS OTHER DRINK OFFERS:

westons cider pints £2.00 ALL NIGHT fishbowl cocktails £5 ALL NIGHT selected premium cocktails from the vip bar 2 FOR 1 ALL NIGHT

5-7 lucy road | southend-on-sea | essex | ss1 2au | 01702 464544 Management reserve the right of admission and to withdraw offers without notice

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