Village Life Tewin August 2012

Life VillageL Lifestyle | Business | Community www.villagelifemag.com

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ISSUE 13: AUGUST 2012

Food Review:

The Chequers Inn JOSE SAAVEDRA – WEDDING DJ & MC Driedee Joinery & interiors

Plus SPENDING THE DAY ON THE BEACH Tewin • Datchworth • Oaklands • Digswell • Woolmer Green • Watton at Stone • Bull’s Green • Burnham Green • Hammer Green

The Belmont Pub, Bar & Restaurant A typical English village pub on the outside set on a lovely village green, with a stylish bar and restaurant on the inside. Nice garden & patio area for al fresco dining.

Fresh food with fresh ingredients from local suppliers

SUMMER SPECIAL MENU OFFER 2 MAIN COURSES FOR ÂŁ15

Example dishes from offer menu Chicken Chasseur with Mash Potatoes & A Green Panache of Vegetables Home made Fish Pie with a Light Cheese Topping & Selection of Vegetables Mushroom Risotto with Rocket & Parmesan Shavings & Wild Rocket Char Grilled Chicken Supreme with Avocado Salad Char Grilled Gammon Steak, Fried Egg & Shoestring Fries Belmont Burger, with Cheddar or Blue Cheese, Shoestring Fries & Salad Garnish Fresh Battered Fish with Shoestring Fries & Peas Fillet of Salmon with New Potatoes &Â Salad Garnish Homemade Beef, Mushroom & Guinness Pie served with Seasonal Vegetables & Mustard Mash Opening Hours Tuesday - Friday 12-3pm & 6pm - close Saturday 12pm - evening close Sunday 12-7pm

The Belmont Pub, Bar & Restaurant 108 Burnham Green Road, Burnham Green AL6 0NQ 01438 798 800 www.belmontrestaurant.co.uk

WELCOME TO AUGUST As we are writing this mid July, the sun has popped out and the rain seems to have gone – let’s hope August isn’t a washout so we can enjoy the summer!

By the time you read this, the Olympics will be in full swing and hopefully we will be on the way to winning some medals. If you are lucky enough to have a ticket for the Olympics, we would love to hear from you.

I would like to draw your attention to the food review at The Chequers this month, we had a fantastic meal and would highly recommend a visit. Also I would highly recommend Victoria from Tori’s Beauty (a mobile beauty therapist). She came to our house and gave us a lovely massage and facial for our wedding anniversary last month. Her advert is on page 26.

Don’t forget you can find the answers to the puzzles on our website – www.villagelifemag.com and we are also on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter – @villagelifemag!

Bye for now,

Jose & Melanie

CALL US: 01438 216950 EMAIL US: mail@villagelifemag.com VISIT US AND READ THE MAGAZINE ONLINE: www.villagelifemag.com facebook.com/villagelifemagazine

CONTENTS

FOOD REVIEW: PAGE 8

4:

Lifestyle: How about spending the day on the beach?

6:

Wellbeing: MarilynTuck – Avoiding putting on weight

8:

Lifestyle:The Chequers Inn Food Review

10-11: Lifestyle: Jose Saavedra Wedding DJ & MC DRIEDEE JOINERY: PAGE 14-15

14-15: Business: Driedee Joinery & Interiors 16:

Business: BigBlackHen.com

20:

Business:The CDI Group

22:

What’s on in August / Take a break

Where Can You Find Village Life?

Village Life Magazine has a readership of 15,000 people and is delivered to homes and businesses across 9 villages.

Find us in Tewin, Datchworth, Oaklands, Digswell, Woolmer Green, Bull’s Green, Burnham Green, Hammer Green and Watton at Stone.

August 2012

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Melanie Saavedra 01438 216950 sales@villagelifemag.com Village Life is published monthly by MJS Publishing.

01438 216950, www.villagelifemag.com © 2012 Village Life (Tewin). Village Life (Tewin) is an independent magazine and does not endorse the products or services that appear in the magazine. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor or of Village Life magazine.

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3

suMMeRTiMe

How about spending the day on the beach?

Aldeburgh (2 hours 30 minutes drive from Tewin) Aldeburgh is a charming, traditional seaside town. It is unspoilt and harks back to an earlier age.There is a traditional boating lake for model yachts, local museum, and historic 16thcentury moot hall.The town is attractive, and has many independent shops.The fishermen still draw their boats up on to the shore and sell fish from the beach.

With the summer holidays here and hopefully some sunny days, we thought we would look at some beaches that are within a 3 hour drive of Tewin. We have chosen a selection of great beaches which are close enough to do in a day trip and handpicked for you from the official Good Beach Guide.

Southend-On-Sea (1 hour 20 minutes from Tewin) Bright, vibrant and exciting — Southend offers a glorious seven mile stretch of coastline. Award-winning beaches, beautiful parks and gardens, family fun attractions, museums, art galleries and exhilarating watersports.

Frinton-On-Sea (2 hours from Tewin) Tree-lined residential avenues sweep down to the elegant Esplanade and cliff-top greensward.The long stretch of sand beach is quiet and secluded.The main shopping street (Connaught Avenue) has been dubbed the “Bond Street” of East Anglia.

Brighton (2 hours from Tewin) England’s favourite seaside city, Brighton is historic, elegant and offbeat and the perfect place for a break.Voted one of the Top 10 beaches in the world, Brighton’s beachfront is legendary.With the famous Brighton Pier as a backdrop, daytime traditional seaside fun mixes seamlessly with night time funky beachside club culture.

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Littlehampton (2 hours 15 minutes drive from Tewin) Littlehampton is a family-friendly, seaside resort with award-winning beaches and an enviable position on the south coast of England.

Hunstanton (2 hours 30 minutes drive from Tewin) Hunstanton boasts famous stripy cliffs and a fabulous beach, which has a Good Beach Award for safety and cleanliness.You can walk from one resort to the other, so you can enjoy a morning of fun and activity at the crazy golf or Sea Life Sanctuary and then spend a lazy afternoon lying on the beach beneath the rambling sand dunes.

Holkham Bay (2 hours 40 minutes drive from Tewin)

Holkham Bay is the most extensive, diverse and dramatic nature reserve on a coastline famous for nature reserves. Windswept tide lines, a maze of creeks and saltings, miles of dunes and sandpits, shady pinewoods, green pastures and marshes: the mix of habitats and the blend of wildlife unite Holkham’s National Nature Reserve a unique place, somewhere to catch your breath in a busy world.

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

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How to avoid putting on weight while watching the telly...

N

aturally at this wonderful time of royal, olympic, sporting and cultural events, we are spending some time in front of the box watching the amazing TV coverage.

Just be aware that while sitting in your comfy chair there will be food and beverage thoughts on your radar.

Remember as you eat and drink that you are not exercising to burn up those calories you are consuming. It is the people you are watching that are doing the exercise.

While you are sitting there looking at their physiques, and innocently eating and drinking it is highly likely that what you are doing is changing the shape of your midriff, not inwards like theirs, but unpleasantly outwards!

So what can you do about it? Firstly, think about what you are eating.

Watch out for the food with the nasty fattening additives. Sugar in the form of high active corn syrup puts on the pounds faster than any other food and is in most processed foods, breads, sweets, flavored yogurts, salad dressings, canned vegetables, and cereals.

Next, steer clear of artificial sweeteners found in diet or sugar free sodas, diet coke, fizzy sweet drinks, desserts, sugar free gum, drink mixes, baking goods, table top sweeteners, cereal, and breath-mints. Crisps, chips, snacks, takeaways and frozen dinners have MSG in, another no-no. And not to mention beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages which really pack on the weight around the midriff area.

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After that you might be thinking, “Well, what can I eat?”

If you are in front of the telly you only need three light meals a day. If you feel a need to snack between times have water first, your stomach often mistakes thirst for food. After half an hour ask yourself if you are still hungry.

Think carefully about putting food into your mouth.

Often people eat because they are bored, not hungry.

Which are you?

Your body is like a car, it needs to be refuelled to get to your destination. If you are spending the day watching telly you probably don’t need any extra fuel.

However, a short brisk 20 minute walk is excellent. Just walk out for 10 minutes, turn around and walk back. It will re-freshen and tone you up, too.

These are just some of the helpful tips included in my hypnotic weight loss audio series which inspire people to get healthy using the right fuel and motivation; like Miranda who reported one stone gone after only 4 weeks.

There is a lot of information on my website marilyntuck.co.uk, under weight loss recordings, or simply scan the QR code here.

Personal consultations are very beneficial, too.

www.marilyntuck.co.uk Knebworth phone 07962 811907

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

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As a retired teacher I admire good teamwork and professionalism.

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7

FooD ReVieW

The Chequers Inn

L

ast month we went to the Chequers Inn in Woolmer Green and really loved the pub, especially the Secret Zoo in the garden with those lovely owls.

This month we return to sample the food. It was a Wednesday afternoon and it was quite busy, we walked in and were greeted with a big smile.

Although the same menu is available throughout, we decided to have our meal in the restaurant. The restaurant has a lovely modern feel and it is nice that the tables are well spaced out, there was ambient music

in the background and we could see the Owls in the garden through the window.

All dishes on the menu are prepared to order from fresh, daily delivered produce. In addition to their famous pies, there is a great selection of food on the a al carte menu including a good choice of vegetarian dishes.

To start we had the Crayfish and Avocado Cocktail with Chilli & Citrus Mayo and the Breaded Calamari with Thai Chilli Mayonnaise and Crusty Bread.The crayfish was really well presented and with the avocado was a really tasty dish, it is unusual to have a spicy sauce but it really worked.

The Calamari was delicious and the chilli mayonnaise really complimented the squid, it was a very generous portion and the bread was perfect for finishing the chilli mayo.

For our mains we chose the Sticky Chicken with Lemon, Honey & Chilli Sauce served with French Fries & Rocket Salad along with the Pan Roasted Duck Breast with Red Wine & Bramble Sauce, served with Sautéed Potatoes and Green Beans. Both dishes were really well presented, the chicken was cooked beautifully and the syrupy chilli sauce had a kick to it without being overwhelming, the rocket salad was a great accompaniment with tasty sun dried tomatoes.We were asked how we would like the duck cooked and opted for ‘medium’, it was an absolutely delicious dish with tender meat that melted in the mouth and

the bramble sauce giving a wonderful flavour.The potatoes and green beans were cooked perfectly Although we were fairly full at this point, it would have been rude not to finish our meal with some of the homemade desserts, so we went for the Eaton Mess and the Profiteroles.

The Eaton Mess was a delightful desert, with the meringue crumbling in the mouth and the wonderful taste of fresh strawberries.The profiteroles were also delicious with a rich chocolate sauce.

We had a fantastic meal and were very impressed by both the presentation and the quality of the food, Marian and her staff were really friendly and I would highly recommend a visit.

For more information or to book a table, or enquire about a function, call Marian on 01438 813 216 or visit www. benicksatthechequers.co.uk

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August 2012

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Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

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Jose Saavedra

The Wedding DJ & Master of Ceremonies

B

eing a good Wedding DJ is about so much more than the music, it is about taking care of the little things and through meticulous preparation, ensuring that the celebrations on your special day will run just as you planned, allowing you to relax and with your guests and enjoy to the full your very special day.

Jose provides a bespoke Wedding Disco service ensuring that your wedding celebrations run as smoothly and professionally as the formal part of your day.To do this, he will devote time to planning the event with you at a pre-wedding meeting which is offered as part of his unique

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service. He will ensure that he understands exactly what you want for your special day so that he can provide you with a wedding disco package tailored exclusively to your requirements. In addition, he will make contact with the venue you have chosen to ensure that every detail is covered and all aspects of the planned programme are fully co-ordinated so that everything will come together perfectly on the day.

Jose will be personally committed to providing you with the highest level of professionalism and expertise developed over 20 years of experience as a DJ, and with hundreds of highly successful weddings to his credit.

He will make your experience one to be cherished and remembered forever.

In addition to being a fantastic DJ who can keep the dance floor buzzing, Jose is a confident and highly experienced public speaker which differentiates him from other DJs. By combining the role of DJ and Master of Ceremonies, Jose will ensure that your wedding flows perfectly. He will work with the venue and your suppliers and will guide you through the etiquette of the day, so you can relax safe in the knowledge that everything will run smoothly.

As your guests arrive they will be greeted with background music of your choice played through a small and discrete PA system.There will be music throughout the day to add atmosphere to the drinks reception and Wedding Breakfast, as well as during the ceremony if required. Multiple PA systems can be set up where different rooms are used during the day.

As your MC, Jose will greet people when they arrive, guide your guests around the venue and announce you in

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

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to the room as husband and wife, where you will enjoy a round of applause as your walk to your table hand in hand. He will make announcements throughout the day keeping your guests informed, co-ordinate the speeches (introducing each speaker then passing them a wireless microphone), introduce the cutting of the cake and the first dance, ask guests to sign the guestbook, and be there to assist with anything that you or your guests need on the day. Essentially Jose is offering the service of a Toastmaster, but rather than wearing a red jacket he will wear a suit or a tux!

With a state of the art sound and lighting rig which never fails to impress, Jose will create the perfect atmosphere for you and your guests to dance the night away. His music collection covers a wide range of music genres including Party, Cheese, Disco, Soul, Funk, R&B, Motown, Rock, Indie, Jazz, Rock & Roll, Dance, House, Punk and all popular music from the 1960’s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s right through to today’s top 40 chart music. His mixing skills and ability to read the crowd will keep the dance floor full and the evening will be one to remember.

As a professional Mobile Disco supplier, Jose holds £10m of Public Liability Insurance and all equipment is fully PAT tested to ensure electrical safety.This is underpinned by a service contract, which gives you the

peace of mind of knowing that he will arrive at the venue in good time, fully prepared and ready to deliver the service he has promised you.

Jose regularly plays at prestigious venues such as Tewinbury Farm, Fanhams Hall, Hanbury Manor and Priory Barn locally, and The Dorchester, Fulham Palace, Hotel Russell, Stationer’s Hall and many others in London.

He is proud to be a member of the Wedding DJ Alliance and the Federation of Small Businesses.

“Jose provides a great service, works well with people, and provides superb entertainment. He was very easy to talk which made the whole process of organising our wedding day so much easier.When it came to any of our specific requests, Jose performed without a hitch.Throughout the evening, our guests just kept telling us how much fun they were having and that the music was forcing them to keep dancing!”

Peter De Santis (Hotel Russell, Russell Square, London)

“Everyone had a fantastic time and there was a real buzz – it’s not often that the dance floor is fully occupied for the whole evening. It was all very professional from the booking process to the set up and the equipment – and then there is Jose’s obvious talent as a DJ!” Les Tinsley (Priory Barn, Little Wymondley)

Jose is offering a free upgraded lighting package for all bookings made in August and September for 2012 and 2013 (Worth £100).

For further information, contact him on 01438 216 950 or 07734 387 478. Alternatively visit his website www.mjsevents.com August 2012

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

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13

business Focus

Driedee Joinery Are you fearful of wooden windows?

There is an alternative to UPVC which offers a traditional look, can increase the value of your home and won’t cost as much as you may think!

T

his month we met up with Steve Watts and Miles Davey from Driedee Joinery, a Stevenage based company which manufactures and installs wooden windows and doors.They offer many different styles of windows from Box Sliding Sash to Georgian Bar made to any size, along with bespoke doors including sliding doors built to any size, with all the latest security such as multi point locking systems.There is a range of ironmongery available and almost any type of design can be sourced.

A special Scandinavian paint is used to protect your beautiful joinery from the worst the British weather can throw at it, offering longevity not previously found with wood.The end product is a traditional window or door with all the modern benefits such as security, double glazing, improved thermal and sound insulation and weather proofing.

Driedee also offers a unique shop fitting service to businesses of all sizes (from independent shops, bars and nightclubs to multinational companies like Nike and Hugo Boss). Following a free consultation, they will design a businesses’ interior space free of charge with no obligation to buy.They will present a 3D solution designed to attract customers through the door while maximising return on investment by making the best use of the space available. If the proposed design is liked, all the drawings and technical details are available for purchase. Should the client decide to appoint Driedee to deliver the project, all design fees will be waived and the shop fitting work is guaranteed for 5 years against wear and tear.

Steve and Miles were at college together in St Albans as apprentices; after vast amount of experience on site Miles joined a tool manufacturer working his way up to Technical Manager. Steve worked for a Joinery and Shop fitting company for 10 years before deciding to setup his own

business in 2000. One of his first projects was to design and install a shop in Sweden which was completed within budget and ahead of time; this then lead to a successful 10 year contract throughout Europe. As part of this large project, Steve met the CEO of a successful shopfitting company in Belgium called Driedee Interieur (meaning “3D Interior” in Flemish). He loved how they operated

The Driedee Joinery, Unit 2, Chells Industrial Units, The Glebe, Chells Way, Stevenage SG2 0LQ

01707 376667 steve@driedee.co.uk www.driedee.com

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Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

business Focus

especially their ethics of training young people and joined forces to establish Driedee in the U.K. Miles had been involved with a tooling system for wooden windows and doors to have the same weatherproofing and longevity of UPVC, but with the sustainability of natural timber without the environmental impact of uPVC. Although busy with work, he never had the opportunity to do anything with the idea until 2010 when he was made redundant. At the same time, the recession was affecting Steve’s business so he was looking for other opportunities. It was during a timely meeting in 2010, where Steve and Miles discussed the idea of combining their skills of manufacturing and shopfitting.

Driedee U.K. would offer all the traditional skills of the English market with the resources and back up of a large Belgium business offering retail design, bar design, manufacturing and installation complimenting the joinery manufacturing.

Steve and Miles believe that the training they received as apprentices gave them a perfect grounding to be successful and they wanted to give something back, so they hired an apprentice who has been with them for almost a year now.

Joe is being trained in all parts of the business from wood machinery, assembly, finishing and using software for design and setting out.They are passing on the skills they have learned and he is already a valuable asset to their business.

Steve told us, “We have found a demand for people to go back to the traditional look in their houses, they are often surprised at how much quieter and draft free their new windows are.We offer all styles of windows and doors which will compliment the look of your house and potentially add value, and they are not as expensive as you may think.

It’s been a steep learning curve and we have invested a lot of time and money perfecting the way we finish our products. Initially we struggled to find good quality timber, adhesives and paint which were up to the job; however following extensive research we have some fantastic suppliers and the Scandinavian paint we use means the wood can bear the harsh British weather.”

Steve and Miles meet clients to go through a checklist of what they require, advising them on timber and paint selection, glass finish and ironmongery.They are happy to provide references or take you to see examples of their work.Whether you are looking for a single window or replacing all of your windows and doors, they will provide advice and a no obligation quote. For a small fee they will August 2012

also come round annually and maintain the windows and doors, cleaning them and fixing small scratches or dents to keep them in good condition.

For further information on Driedee’s doors and windows or if you are thinking of buying a retail shop and would like to understand how to maximise your investment, contact Steve on 01707 376667, 07917 166 727, steve@driedee.co.uk or visit www.driedee.com

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

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local Business

A fresh new approach to selling your home.

BigBlackHen.com is an award winning, new kind of estate agency offering a better way to sell your property which is straightforward, user friendly, innovative and less expensive (fees from under 0.75%), with a quality of service and local expertise that home owners expect and deserve. ased in Welwyn We take enormous care to present our client’s homes Garden City, the as beautifully as possible with the use of House Doctors business is run by in order to help get the best price. Our eight page glossy Nigel Adams who grew brochure is second to none and not what you might expect up locally and has played after seeing our low fees.We also take great pride in giving rugby for Welwyn RFC customers a high quality, personal service – Bobbie (who since 1986. Nigel told us, works with me) and I never forget that your home is your “I started BigBlackHen. most important asset.” com because I felt that the “The service we received from Nigel was second to none. He enormous growth of house supported us wholeheartedly through the ups and downs of the hunting online left a gap selling process and I will certainly be recommending BigBlackHen. in the market for a newer, fresher, and more cost effective com to everyone I know” “I found BigBlackHen.com very helpful kind of estate agent. By not having a High Street office, we and the presentation of their brochure was excellent – the best I are able to charge clients less and we offer a number of have ever seen from an estate agent” unique innovations such as a client-friendly contract with “Very impressive small team that definitely provide a personal no tie-in clauses, and an anti-gazumping policy. touch to proceedings.”

B

For a free no-obligation valuation and to find out more about BigBlackHen.com’s fresh approach, house doctoring service and low fixed fees - contact Nigel on 01707-817844, enquiries@bigblackhen.com or visit www.bigblackhen.com

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August 2012

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austins_dove_LAND_HPC_129x186_artwork.indd 1

August 2012

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

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LIFESTYLE PILATES

Birchwood Leisure Centre Longmead, Hatfield Herts, AL10 0AN

01707 271272

Back pain misery to quality of life Back pain is a common problem and there can be all sorts of reasons for this, from poor posture to lifting something too heavy.

Anna Passera was suffering with a bad back, she had a gradual increase in pain and numbness until she could no longer stand nor sleep which went on for 6 miserable months. An MRI Scan revealed she had a torn and bulging disc in her back so she went for Physio and learnt some Pilates exercises.

Anna says, “To my surprise, my pain started to ease over the weeks and the numbness started to subside. After about 2 months of back rehabilitation exercises, I was discharged from the NHS physiotherapy department, but I still had mild pain and numbness and I was concerned that I would

relapse back to severe pain. I started to hunt for a suitable Pilates centre and found Lifestyle Pilates.

I was then booked into a special injury class and received a special one-to-one session with Bev before the class to discuss my back problems in detail. Over 2 months of weekly classes, Bev took dedicated and special care of me and my back and I was able to start running again, which was an amazing feeling.

Since then, Bev and her team have introduced new exercises to benefit my running and keep my back strong.

My current teacher, Fiona tailors each and every lesson to everyone’s individual needs. Recently, I have run various long distance races, including a half-marathon and I can’t thank Lifestyle Pilates enough for literally getting me back on my feet and keeping me healthy!”

To book a Pilates one to one, assessment, workshop or class if you’ve done Pilates before e-mail: info@lifestylepilates.com or call the studio on 01707 271272. For more details visit www.lifestylepilates.com

STAGG PLUMBING & HEATING Specialists in Annual Boiler/Central Heating Services Plumbing and Heating Requirements Boiler & Heating Installations Boiler Upgrades Power Flushing Pumps, Radiators & Valves Hot & Cold Water Tanks All Plumbing & Heating work undertaken

For a free no obligation quote contact: 01438 712712 www.staggproperty.co.uk

info@staggproperty.co.uk

STAGG PROPERTY SERVICES LTD 18

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

VILLAGE LIFE

DAVID THOMAS GARAGES Service is our Business • • • • • • • •

For all your vehicle servicing and MOT requirements Latest Bosch Diagnostic Equipment Air conditioning servicing and repairs Fuel injector testing and ultrasonic cleaning Friendly, personal service from family run team All work carried out by fully skilled and trained staff We do not carry out extra work without your authority Courtesy vehicles available on request

Telephone: 01438 820 288 www.davidthomasgarages.co.uk Newtown, Codicote, Herts. SG4 8UG David Thomas Garages HP 1110.indd 1

21/10/2010 10:46

Old Welwyn Construction Specialists in Extensions, Home Refurbishment, Landscaping, Patios and Driveways.

Call Daniel on 01438 715362 or 07748 204 818 Email: oldwelwynconstruction@hotmail.co.uk Old Welwyn 1 Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950 August 2012 Construction 0811 HP.indd Village

21/07/2011 14:0519

business Focus

T

he CDI Group has over 20 years experience providing a full range of electrical services to homes and businesses. Based in Welwyn Garden City, the business was setup by Steve Moore and Steven Davies to offer a high level of service at a reasonable price. As NICEIC approved electrical installation and testing engineers, CDI provide a comprehensive and guaranteed electrical service including maintenance and technical facilities.

For domestic customers services include rewiring, lighting installations, fuse & consumer units, fire & smoke alarms, security systems, installing outdoor power, garden lighting and design, electrical testing, in fact anything to do with electrics or lighting.

For commercial customers, CDI can act as a main contractor or as a subcontractor and services include 3 phase installation and testing, PAT(portable appliance testing), routine maintenance and emergency call out, periodic testing and reports, landlords domestic certification, electrical testing and inspection, maintenance, fire & smoke alarms, security systems, data cabling and networks, office lighting design, dado trunking floor socket systems, emergency lighting and exterior lighting (e.g. for car parks).

Steve told us, “We can do anything electrical in the home and have a lot of experience in installing low energy LED lighting, and also installing power and lighting in the garden.We have a great team of electricians working for us, as well as being highly experienced and friendly, they understand how important customer service is for us.

We are very proud that much of our work comes from recommendation and referrals.This is particularly true in the area of schools and other educational establishments where we often have to work within tight timescales,

with many major projects needing to be commenced and completed within the holiday periods.”

“

Thank you for the fantastic job you did in putting power into my garden. I was really impressed with how the cabling was hidden so well around the garden, and amazed that the job was finished even though it was raining most of the day.The 2 guys that did the work were really friendly and polite and a credit to your company, I have no hesitation in recommending CDI to anyone needing electrical work.” Jose and Mel,Village Life

“

Your team were friendly and efficient and they were also able to work around and entertain the puppy who continually was only interested in distracting the team and gaining their attention. I would have no hesitation in recommending or using CDI again in the future for any of our electrical needs.”

Mr & Mrs M P-C

“

Having made a panic phone call, you were there to survey the job in a couple of hours and turned up the next day to complete the work to a very high standard.Thank you for Rapid response, excellent customer liaison, quick and clean installation and excellent value for money. I will be using CDI for all my electrical work from now on and will always recommend CDI.” All Trades Network Ltd

CDI Group Ltd, Unit 3, The Polaris Centre, 41 Brownfields, Welwyn Garden City AL7 1AN

01707 333000 enquiries@cdi-electrical.com www.cdi-electrical.com 20

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

VILLAGE LIFE

Guess what we’re having?

HALF PRICE SALE COME IN TO SEE THE SAVINGS YOU CAN MAKE S E L E C T E D I T E M S O N LY

Unit 136, Stevenage Indoor Market, St Georges Way, Stevenage SG1 1EP We are opposite the rear entrance to Wilkinsons

Tel/Fax: 01438 314263 Mobile: 07970 034579 email: sales@oaklandblinds.co.uk WHERE QUALITY MATTERS

Opening Hours: Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat, 9am - 5pm

why not visit16:14 our website: 1/2 A5 advert_Layout 1 12/05/2011 Page 1 www.oaklandblinds.co.uk

Looking for something a little different? newleaf marketing communications may just be what you are looking for newleaf marketing communications is a full service marketing consultancy.

We specialise in the design and print of promotional literature, branding and contract publishing. We also have a wealth of experience in managing media relations, online promotions, direct mail and photography.

At newleaf marketing communications we provide more than just creative skills but also the ability to listen, understand and solve complex issues quickly and efficiently.

For more information on how we can help your company call us today 01438 871968

W www.newleafmarcom.com E info@newleafmarcom.com T 01438 871968 Design

August 2012

Print

Media Planning

Contract Publishing

Branding

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

More than just great ideas...

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Saturday 11th Aug - Sunday 12th Aug, 10am - 5pm The Knebworth Country Show, Knebworth House, Knebworth, SG1 2AX

Take a Break…

CROSSWORD

What’s on in AUGUST...

All day entertainment – birds of prey, working dogs, children’s entertainment as well as arts, crafts, gifts and food marquees. www.oakleighfairs.co.uk

Thursday 16 Aug 2012, 1pm & 3.30pm Fairy Tales of the Unexpected, Hawthorne Theatre, The Campus, W.G.C, AL8 6BX A magical adventure for all the family. Fully interactive, lively and very funny with a modern twist on classic fairy tales. Lots of singing, live action, and maybe even a few custard pies too! Suitable for ages 3 to 10. Tickets £10 / £8 concessions. www.hawthornetheatre.co.uk

Friday 17th Aug - Sunday 19th Aug Hatfield Country Show, Hatfield House, Hatfield, AL9 5NQ A wonderful family day out with main arena attractions, livestock, judging, horticultural marquee and children’s activities – and much more.

Contact 07974 778806, www.hatfield-house.co.uk

Monday 20th - Friday 24th Aug Mad Science Camp at Sherrardswood School, 3 Lockleys, Welwyn, AL6 0BJ Hands-on, interactive, science themed day camps for 4 - 11year olds.

Topics include: Radical Reactions! Super Senses! Slimy Science! Lights Colour Action! Sporty Science! Wacky Waves and Much More!

Visit www.madscience.org/east for more details or call 01727 824700.

Tuesday 21st - Thursday 23rd Aug 2012, 10.30 am - 3.30 pm Super Sleuths family activities, Hertford Museum, 18 Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT Come along and get crafty, www.hertfordmuseum.org

Sat 25 August - Sunday 26th August, 11am - 4pm Peartree Fun Day, Woodhall Community Centre, Mill Green Road, W.G.C AL7 3XD

acRoss 1. faceplate (6) 5. singer (6) 8. a hundred square yards (4) 9. explosive (8) 10. spider web (8) 11. coarse (4) 12. plant reproductive organ (6) 14. make up your mind! (6) 16. a good long way away (4) 18. fun event for children (8) 20. brassica (8) 21. wood eaten with fish (4) 22. lovely (6) 23. relative (6)

DoWn 2. flight terminal (7) 3. group with common characteristic (5) 4. internal examination (13) 5. opposing argument (13) 6. to do with numbers (7) 7. considered (5) 13. supernatural act (7) 15. lead astray (7) 17. refrain from (5) 19. review (colloquial) (5)

SUDOKU

Stalls, BBQ, Fun Fair, Candy Floss, Soak the Plod, Sports Activities and a Bring & Buy Sale. For more information call 01707 638012. Organised by the Peartree Safer Neighbourhood Team in aid of Isabel Hospice.

Free entry, all welcome.

Sat 25 August - Sunday 26th August, 3pm - 11.55pm on both days Goatfest Music Festival raising funds for Isabel Hospice, the Goat Inn in Codicote 2 day Bank Holiday fundraiser showcasing loads of bands and has a friendly fun atmosphere. To support them in the sunshine (fingers crossed) or maybe help on the day by volunteering to steward. Call Cheryl Cusack on 01707 382500.

Monday 27th August, 2pm - 5.30pm NGS Open Garden at Rustling End Cottage, Rustling End, Nr Codicote A cottage garden with box parterre, topiary, reflecting pool, late flowering borders and wildflower meadow open in aid of the NGS, raising money for nursing and caring charities. Adult £4, Children free, www.ngs.org.uk GeT YouR eVenT lisTeD FoR FRee HeRe, eMail: mail@villagelifemag.com or call us on 01438 216 950 22

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

VillaGe liFe

CDI GROUP

Your local electricians • • • • • • • •

Electrical testing Rewires Lighting installation Fuse & consumer units Fire & smoke alarms Security systems Outdoor power Garden lighting & design

Commercial & Industrial Electrical Services

Call for a free quotation

01707 333000 www.cdi-electrical.com

£5 OFF

your 1st CLEAN Hobs, Oven, Range, AGA, Extractor Hoods, BBQs Guaranteed results You will NOT be disappointed Call Andy on

07595 837740 5 Pondcroft Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL7 3PX

Your local Will Writing Company Will Writing Estate Administration (Probate) Lasting Powers of Attorney’s Wide range of Trusts Inheritance Tax advice Free consultation, home visits available day or evening “The team handle this sensitive issue with compassion, care and attention to detail ensuring that all of your requirements are met”

01992 535 135 www.abbottswills.co.uk Conbar House, Mead Lane, Hertford, SG13 7AP August 2012

THE FLOORING STORE THAT COMES TO YOUR DOOR

Carpets Vinyls Laminates Wood Adaptations & repairs ●

●

FOR A FREE QUOTATION call Ewen McPherson on

07966 463761 or

01707 338505 Email: info@eccarpets.com the pleasure is underfoot

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

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Are you a local

Mobile Car Wash & Valet looking for more business?

Peony Floral Boutique

Creative Contemporary and Traditional Floristry for all occasions.

Wide selection of unusual gifts, plants, cut �lowers and handmade cards 121 High St, Codicote Telephone: 01438 821888 www.peony�lorist.co.uk

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If you would like to come on board and promote your company to 15,000 readers each month, we will offer low advertising rates.

Contact Melanie on

01483 216 950

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

VillaGe liFe

Do you need an extra pair of hands to help you take your business to the next level?

Administrative Support

The Office on the Net can help you by for Busy Business People takin care of all your adinistrave Wefreein can help you care of all your tasks, you totake build your business administrative tasks, giving you the time usin your creave skills to grow your business doing what you are passionate about.

Contact Lia Contact Lia on 07718 588482 On 07718 588 482 or or at lia@theofficeonthenet.co.uk lia@theoffi ceonthenet.co.uk www.theofficeonthenet.co.uk

Village Village Tree Services Tree Services

Let us Create a Beautiful Floor For You We Supply and Fit Solid Wood, Engineered Wood, Laminate and Vinyl.

Professional Tree Care Services All Aspects of Tree Work Undertaken Fully Qualified and Insured Logs Available

Quote Village Life for a 10% discount

Various designs including parquet, herringbone and borders Re-sand existing floors (95% dust-free)

80% of our work is from Customer Recommendation



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Fully Insured For a free consultation,



call 01707 373336 or 07834 412105 info@creativewoodflooring.co.uk www.creativewoodflooring.co.uk 12 Garden Court, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1BH

Tel: 01462 435 873 Tel: 01462 435 873 Mobile: 07717 744274 Mob: 07717 744 274

August 2012

Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

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sHoWcase

LOCKSMITH

looking for more business?

Are you or is your business in financial difficulties?

Tori’s Beauty

We can help you assess the options and reach the right solution.

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Friendly, all-round service to maintain and enhance your business processes, taking away the stress and hassle from you, and freeing your time to focus on your business.

Are you a reliable Private Tutor?

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Village Life | www.villagelifemag.com | tel: 01438 216950

August 2012

James Howe Landscapes Design

Construction

Maintenance

Design Services Grass Cutting Planting Turfing Drainage Garden Clearance Brickwork Tree Work Hedge Reductions Patios Driveways Fencing Decking Rockeries Water Features Free quotation and advice.

With James Howe Landscapes, you are guaranteed a friendly, reliable and quality service.

M: 07787 517372

T: 01438 820148

jameshowelandscapes@btinternet.com