The Vine Luton - April/ May 2018 - Issue 26 by The Vine Magazine

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Local News / What’s On / Local Directory

I Bramingham I Bushmead I Icknield I Barnfield I Stopsley I Wigmore I

Local News

What’s On

Puzzles

In The Garden

With Alan Titchmarsh

BIN COLLECTIONS Have Your Say

LIFE INSURANCE By Martin Lewis

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• Local Business Directo ry • Local Events • Local New Editor: Scott Nightingale s • Local Offers Editor: Scott Nightingale Advertising & Editorial: ADD YOUR LISTING Advertising Shelly Nesbitt & Editorial: TODAY! Shelly Nesbitt Tel: 01525 222379 / 07852 453043 Tel: 01525 222379 / 07852 453043 Email: info@thevinemagazine.co.uk Email: info@thevinemagazine.co.uk

10 Eden Our Doorstep? LocalOn News 8 Bin Collections - Have Your Say 12 Local News Last Christmas post Dates 10 The BIG Pedal 20 TeamSport Competition 18 Dying To Be-creative Stoptober 14 Keech - Dads Kayak Challenge 22 Martin Lewis:Christmas Money Matters Home Made 16 Martin Lewis Life Caring For Insurance Houseplants 26 At Home: 28 A Pensioners View

Organised in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland.

Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the Whilst every care hasand been taken published to ensure the content of advertising articles in content of advertising and neither articles the published in this magazine are accurate, publisher are accurate, can neither the publisher orthis its magazine editorial contributors accept and or its editorial can accept hereby disclaim contributors any liability to any partyand to loss disclaim to any party to loss orhereby damage causedany by liability errors. Neither do they or damage causedofby errors. NeitherThe do they reflect the opinion this publication. Vine reflect opinion of this publication. The Vine does notthe officially endorse any advertising does notincluded officiallywithin endorse advertising material thisany publication. material included withinmay thisbe publication. No part of this publication reproduced No partprior of this publication may be reproduced without permission. without prior permission.

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18 In Body 28 TheChange Garden 32 Office Rental 4U 32 Change 4U: Calories 34 Looking Up Office Rooms 20 Body At Home - Garden 34 C220 AMG 36 Puzzles 22 Autos: In TheMercedes Garden - Pots & Containers 36 Puzzles 38 Travellers 24 AAutos: Volvo Tale V90

TheTo Gunpowder 38 Snippets: 44 Win! Tickets Aladdin Plot 26 Puzzles Copy deadline 46 Pensioners 48 AOut & About View Copy deadline for next issue: 30 Looking Up Copy deadline 48 Out & About for next issue: May 18th for next issue: January 2018 November 18th 18th

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Issue 26 • April / May 2018

local News

Spring Has Sprung At Luton Hoo The season starts at the Luton Hoo Estate Walled Garden with a Spring Open Day on Wednesday April 4th from 10.30-13.00 with free children's activities and historic garden tours. Open Wednesdays begin on May 2nd and continue until September 26th open from 10.30-16.00 and historic garden tours are included in the ÂŁ5 entry fee which goes towards the revival fund. In addition a tour of the Victorian farm buildings may be available. The garden is open from 10.30-16.00 Produce from the garden will be on sale including Luton Hoo honey as well as plants. Refreshments will be available including light lunches from the cafe in the Shooting Lodge which is accessed via the picturesque woodland walk. Spring is a great time to visit when the rhododendrons are in full bloom. One of our greatest assets is our 135-strong volunteer force which includes conservationists, researchers, children's activity leaders as well as gardeners and Open Wednesdays are an opportunity to show our progress to visitors when our volunteers are at work.

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The Estate, which is a separate entity to the hotel, is hosting our second Open Farm Sunday event on June 10th after an extremely successful one last year. Entry is free and will be open from 1100-1500 with tractor trailer rides, children's activities and farm and historic garden tours. Talks and tours for groups are also available please see our website www.lutonhooestate.co.uk email office@lutonhooestate.co.uk or telephone 01582 721443 for more information and further details on all our activities and events. You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up to date. We look forward to seeing you and don't forget, access is via the A1081 between Luton and Harpenden West Hyde Rd/Newmill End turning LU1 4LE there is no entrance to or from the hotel.

TRAIN TO TEACH? The Shire Foundation, based in Luton, is a leading primary teacher training provider. We offer personalised learning opportunities and unique facilities. Our tutors are leading practitioners in a variety of curriculum and professional subject areas and are themselves outstanding teachers, many teaching in our local schools. Shire is part of Luton First Teaching School Alliance and is situated on the site of HIillborough Junior School, rated as 'outstanding' by OFSTED. This gives our trainees access to opportunities to observe high quality teaching and also work with receptive and highly motivated children as part of training sessions. Established in 1994, we have a superb employment after training record, with many of our trainees going on to either lead subjects or higher school management. Last year, 2016-17, 100% of our trainees obtained a teaching post after training.

Here is what some of our trainees say about us......'the support I have had from my mentors has been truly fantastic'........'my mentor was very attentive and gave very good feedback which helped me grow as a teacher'..........'the science sessions are brilliant, science wasn't a subject I thought I would enjoy teaching.'....

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Issue 26 â&#x20AC;˘ April / May 2018

local News

Bin collections are one of the few things that we as a council consistently provide to everyone, and it’s a very tangible demonstration of how we spend your council tax.

We know how important it is, and that we must make sure any changes are carefully thought through. The council spends around £14million a year on collecting and disposing of waste from over 118,000 households. Which is nearly 10 per cent of residents’ council tax. In addition, we spend just under £2.5m on other waste related services for residents, such as our Tidy Tips (also called Household Waste Recycling Centres). Due to the pressures on our budgets, we need to make sure that these services are provided in the most efficient way possible. Our waste collection contract is up for renewal in 2019, and will be a seven year contract. Waste collection and disposal contracts are long-term agreements, so we don’t often get a chance to make big changes. We need to decide on the type of service we need for the future before we go out to tender. So, if we are going to be making any changes, we need to think about them now. That is why we have launched one of our biggest ever consultations on potential changes to bin collections. It is also increasingly recognised that we need to recycle more, with issues such as those raised in the recent Blue Planet television. Whilst many people are diligent recyclers, as a region we do need to do more. Our current

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rate is 46 per cent. We want to increase that to at least 50 per cent by 2020. Recycling is not only environmentally friendly, it is also much cheaper: it is four times cheaper to recycle the waste in your recycling bin than it is to dispose of the contents of your domestic black bin. In fact, the options we’re consulting on potentially could save the council over £2million every year. That means we can use this money to better fund services such road repairs or to support vulnerable adults and children. If people recycle more, then it could be possible for us to collect the black bin waste that can’t be recycled less frequently, such as once every three weeks rather than every fortnight. To mitigate fears about flies and vermin, we’d implement a weekly food waste collection with a lockable caddy for everyone. And we’re consulting on increased recycling options for our residents, like separate paper collection and also glass collection. Another option we are exploring is charging residents who want a fortnightly garden waste collection.

I would like to emphasise this is a consultation, and that we are keen to hear your views. To find out more and have your say, go online to: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bin-changes. The consultation is open until 5pm on 20th April. The council’s Executive will then consider all of the public feedback at its meeting on 10th May 2018. By Cllr James Jamieson, Leader of Central Bedfordshire

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www.mycomplete.co.uk dean.w.1@hotmail.com Issue 26 • April / May 2018 9

local local News Community Lead sponsor

Supporting sponsor

Sustrans Big Pedal is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting challenge that inspires pupils, staff and parents to choose two wheels for their journey to school. Register for the challenge at: www.bigpedal.org.uk

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Central Bedfordshire schools will pedal andThis scoot around the in 23rd 10 days! year’s challenge willworld run from April - 4th May and is open to individual classes as well as whole schools.

of scho ols sur veyed s that pu aid pils co naround cyclefor Schools across Central Bedfordshire are encourthe Guinness World Record cycling or scoo tinuedthe to On each day of the challenge schools compete to see who can record t to sc isool followin the theme aging and parents jump staff on and parents world in cycling 78 days. or So appropriately, thechildren, greatestteachers proportion of their to pupils, g the e h ent scooting to scooters school. A fiveBig days will determine theirWorld final in 10 days’, with pupils vtracking their bikes and toschool’s take partbest in The ‘Around the position, but they can log journeys on all ten days if they wish. Pedal 2018, which is a national challenge between their progress on a map of the world and learning

schools to get more cycling about theSustrans countriesBig Mark passed through on his Winners of the Bigyoung Pedalpeople Challenge willand receive an exclusive Pedal trophy. scooting. world trip. Councillor Nigel Young, Executive Member for The competition,Over which runs from Monday 23rd Regeneration at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: April to Friday 4th May, will encourage participants “The proportion of English children walking and to leave their cars at home and choose two wheels cycling to school has declined since 1995, with the Earlier this year,number Mark Beaumont travelled theprimary world inschool 78 days for their school journey instead. being driven to their inmade schools by bike. We invite you to follow Marks journey, going creasing each‘around year. Yet the ... world in 10 days’ by cycling ct the or scooting to school as part of The annual inter-school Its A Fa Sustrans average primary school at the 1,300 pils 2018. Bigpu Pedal e 25% of ag er av in On rt pa competition is the largest journey is just 1.6 miles ok to s ol ho sc g icipatin On each day of t, despite byrt to schoolpa of its kind, with pupils – the perfect distance to journeys 2017 eventhe e th of y da g y challenge, schools using cyclin UK scooterever and bike e from schools right across cycle, scooter or walk. th in ls pi just 2% of pu and classes t to school. If to gecan the UK competing against ay w l ua us r r follow Mark’s route as thei made by ca each other. It is open to “As well as being fun, ys had been yourproduced those journe by tracking ve ha ld ou w individual classes, as well The Big Pedal competiey th d, er progress on a Big instea and used ov es of CO2map. as whole schools, and the tion promotes active of over 847 tonnPedal world st co of fuel (at a competition is weighted travel, healthy lifestyles 79,000 gallons ). by school size so that and road awareness. over £384,000 everyone has a fair chance Last year 75% of schools that took part in the Big Schools and classes will be entered into daily prize of draws winning. greater the proportion scootstuntPedal said that pupils continued to cycle and scoot for The rewards including bike andwho scooter andshows cycle each day, the more points their and equipment if over 15% of school your school to school after the event, so we also hope to see cycle or scootbest on each day will of the challenge. earns. A school’s five days determine their a lasting reduction in congestion and pollution final position, but they can log journeys on all around the school gates. “ ten days if they wish, or just take part in one day. Last year, 33 schools from Central Bedfordshire Schools will also be entered into daily prize draws took part, with over 2,000 families amassing 7,910 for rewards that include bike stunt shows and cycle g On average 25% of pupils at participating schools part every ipatin aid bike journeys and 9,396 trips took by scooter – a fantasequipment. ic t r a s d of p day – amazing when you consider justand 2%aofhigh pupils usetocycling in year! rveye ss of tic achievement target beat this u s ols e ne the UK as their usual way to getchild’s to school. If those journeys hadBig Pedal schoyear’s g backed awar This challenge is being by world Ask your school to sign up to The in d t e o been made by car, we saved over 847 tonnes of CO2 and over it rais g and sco l.Mark Beaumont, who holds record cyclist 2018 at www.bigpedal.org.uk n yclibreaking choo

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www.maximumsecuritysystems.co.uk Issue 26 • April / May 2018

local News

Doggy Day CAREGiver

A furry, four-legged CAREGiver has joined the team at a Luton-based home care company.

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Ruby, a two-year-old Cockerpoo, has passed her behavioural tests and is now accompanying the team at Home Instead Luton and Central Bedfordshire’s visits to people across the district. “Ruby is much loved by all our team and our dog-loving clients,” said Maria Collins, the company director. “Dogs and other pets have long proven themselves to be wonderful companions, and everyone looks forward to being visited by Ruby!

“People’s faces light up when they see our CAREGivers and Ruby paying their visits. She loves the cuddles and strokes and providing a special kind of companionship, which helps tackle loneliness.” Ruby’s appearances on the company’s Facebook page always provokes lots of comments and likes and Maria added: “Just like the rest of my team, she is a real star and proves every day that she’s everyone’s best friend.”

Find Home Instead on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HomeInsteadBedfordshire/

Step Closer To A Cure For Parkinson’s

a week can help slow progression of symptoms. Exercise also has a positive impact on wellbeing and mental health The registration fee is £10 for adults and £5 for under 16s. Everyone who registers will receive a free Walk for Parkinson’s t-shirt, walk fundraising pack and a finishers medal. Last year’s Walk for Parkinson’s series There are a range of distances on had more than 4,300 people sign up offer to suit everyone, with a 2.5 to walk and between them they raised & 5 mile walk to choose from. So £417,700. whether you’re up for a challengAll money raised by Walk for ing walk or a gentle stroll, there is something for everyone. Both routes Parkinson’s will be used to help find better treatments, and ultimately a are also suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users. Team entries are wel- cure, as well as providing support and information for the 145,000 people come, so why not sign up with your friends, family and colleagues. affected by Parkinson’s across the UK Walking and other types of exercise is particularly important for people As well as walkers, the charity is on the lookout for volunteers to help on with Parkinson’s as research shows that two and half hours of exercise the day. People in Norfolk are being asked to unite with thousands of others across the UK and step closer to a cure for Parkinson’s this year at Walk for Parkinson’s – Forest of Marston Vale on Sunday 20th May, one of a series of walk events to be held across the UK for Parkinson’s UK during 2018.

To find out more about the walk visit the website www.fundraising.org.uk/walkmarstonvale 12 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

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Or just turn up for 7:30! (Don’t worry, you don’t need to be able to read music AND you don’t need to be a Vauxhall Motors employee, past or present!)

Issue 26 • April / May 2018

local News

Dads’ Kayak Challenge Hopes To Raise £5,000 For Children’s Hospice The mum of a seriously ill little girl is backing two dads’ 130-mile kayak challenge which will raise thousands of pounds to help care for seriously ill children like her daughter. Maria Cater, 49, said she’s delighted that friends Graham Durcan and Richard Nordsted are supporting Keech Hospice Care, which has cared for her daughter Presley Stewart, 12, since she was a baby. “Presley has extensive brain damage caused by contracting group b streptococcal meningitis at just three weeks old. She also has epilepsy and cerebral palsy and is registered blind. “I don’t know what we would have done without the emotional and practical support Keech Hospice Care has given to us throughout Presley’s life. That’s why we’re so grateful people like Graham and Richard are raising money to help such an amazing local charity.” On Sunday, 18th March, the pair, known locally as Radar and Bootsie, began the ‘Seaside to Seasiders’ challenge, kayaking from the Wash in north Norfolk to Fenny

Basin in Milton Keynes, before arriving on foot at the MK Dons Stadium to thousands of football fans on Saturday, 24th March. “I have had friends cared for in hospices before, so I’ve witnessed first-hand how incredible their care is,” said Graham, 56. “After finding out that Keech Hospice Care needs around £5.7million every year from the community to fund its care, that was it. We knew we had to do something to support our local children’s hospice. “It’s important to us that we help the charity to continue supporting seriously ill children and their families in our area. When we visited the hospice in Luton we saw the wonderful care they provide to adults and children with terminal and life-limiting illnesses and we were really moved.” “We’ve only done something like this before once, and that was for two and a half days and this is six,” said Richard, 52. “This time we’re going against the flow of the river and for the first two days we’re basically in the sea so it’s going to tough with the water coming against us.”

14 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

Radar and Bootsie, both from Milton Keynes and big supporters of the MK Dons football team for many years, are aiming to raise £6,000 for Keech Hospice Care. So far they’ve raised more than £5,000 via their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/radar-bootsie Liz Searle, the charity’s CEO, says she has been touched by how far the pair are prepared to go to support their local hospice. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Radar and Bootsie. The money they raise will help us to continue providing free, specialist care and support for adults in Luton and south Bedfordshire, and children in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Milton Keynes with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, as well as their family and friends. “As a charity we believe that everyone facing a terminal or life-limiting illness should receive excellent care and support but to make sure they do, we rely on the community to help us raise 70 per cent of the funding we need for our care which is why what these two men are doing means so much.”

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CALL: 07511 906 161 Issue 26 • April / May 2018

Money Matters By Martin Lewis

Life Insurance

@martinslewis

All parents want to see their children grow up and flourish. The thought of not being there, and the impact that’d have on them, is almost too unpleasant to bear. Yet I want you to imagine it. One in 29 children – a typical class size – lose a parent before they grow up. I was one. And on top of the horrendous destructive grief, as prosaic as it sounds, there are often serious financial considerations too.

When I meet a new parent, at my TV roadshows, they often ask me about saving for their children. After congratulating them, and answering, I always ask if they’ve got life insurance. It is a crucial but often overlooked financial consideration. And we need to override the emotion and examine it clinically.

There are three types of life insurance: Life insurance is an insurance policy you take out that’s designed to pay out a lump sum when you die – usually either to clear debts, or provide money to live off. There are three main types of policies (other than investment type life assurance plans):

Level term life insurance - This pays out a set amount if you die during a set time.

Mortgage decreasing-term life insurance This aims to clear your mortgage. So as your mortgage debt drops with time, so does the amount it’d pay out. Whole of life insurance - The policy is mainly about mitigating inheritance tax costs.

The cheapest, easy way to protect your family is level term life insurance With level term insurance you pay a monthly pre-

16 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

mium and it pays out a set amount if you die within a set period of time, for example £200,000 if you die within the next 20 years. The more cover you get and the longer the term you want, the more you’ll pay. And as there’s usually little dispute over whether someone is dead or not – and the payout is fixed, then providing the company is reputable, it’s usually just a case of the cheaper the better.

A rule of thumb is cover 10 times the main breadwinners income The aim is to have enough cash to cover the lack of income if you’re gone. So if you’ve no partner or children who need the money don’t bother. If you do need cover, it’s important to consider the financial impact if you died. Aim for a lump sum that’s enough to repay any outstanding debt (including a mortgage if you don’t have a separate policy), and provide for outgoings your dependants would have. In a couple, even if the one who died wasn’t the main earner, there can be serious knock on effects. Perhaps the higher earner would need to give up some work or pay for childcare. That’s why a rough rule of thumb is to cover 10 times the main breadwinner’s income.

- Beware going direct to an insurer, it’s a competitive market, you need to ensure you’re finding the cheapest. - Even comparison sites can be over-expensive. They may find you the cheapest policy, but they usually also take a huge whack of commission from the insurer. - If you don’t need advice, use a discount broker. Here you pay a fee of £25ish, but they rebate all the commission into your policy so it can be £1,000s cheaper. Discount brokers include www.cavendishonline.co.uk, www.moneyworld.com and www.moneyminder.com, who will all price match if you find it cheaper elsewhere. - If you do need advice (and getting it right is important) use an advisory broker or Independent Financial Yet you don’t need to stick with that. You may have Advisor. While they take the commission, at least ‘death in service’ cover from your employer, which can they’re doing something for it. You can find an IFA reduce the amount you need. Yet if all that’s expensive, at www.unbiased.co.uk and www.vouchedfor.co.uk, or just cover what you can afford. big advisory brokers include www.lifesearch.co.uk and www.lifeassureonline.co.uk. Shortening the term cuts the cost, though generally you’d want cover that lasts until children have finished Write it in trust to protect dependents full-time education. Those who’ve had serious medical pre-existing conditions, and smokers, pay more for cover, put bluntly, this is because you’re more likely to die within the term. If you already have life insurance and have been nicotine free (including e-cigarettes and patches), it could be worth seeing if a new policy would be cheaper provided you haven’t had a serious medical condition meanwhile.

Slash £1,000s off the cost of level term insurance Never think of life insurance as a monthly cost, you may be paying it for 20 years, so every £1 a month cheaper is a saving of £240. For full help finding the cheapest policy see www.mse.me/lifeinsurance, but in brief…

from tax.

A life insurance policy is yours, so if you die the payout forms part of your estate and would be liable for inheritance tax. However if, when getting out a policy, you write it ‘in trust’ to your dependents, it is paid directly to them so inheritance tax isn’t due, and the money is likely paid out more quickly. Most insurance policies include the option (and papers) for writing in trust directly at no extra charge. If you know what you are doing, you can write the policy in trust yourself. If not, get advice. Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of MoneySavingExpert.com. To join the 12 million people who get his free Money Tips weekly email, go to www. moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip.

Although Money Matters is based on extensive research and personal knowledge, Martin Lewis is not necessarily qualified in the given field/subject. We would therefore always recommend that readers take this information as advice and do their own research before committing. Issue 26 • April / May 2018

Health & Fitness

“You don’t stop playing because you get old.... You get old because you stop playing!” As a personal trainer I have heard almost every excuse there is as to why people can’t achieve their goals. But excuses are exactly what they are. As we get older it becomes easier to create barriers. “I don’t have time”, “I ache”, “I have to look after the children/grandchildren”, “I have injuries”. These are all the common excuses I hear, but none of them are valid. Let’s break these excuses down a little. “I don’t have time”. There are 24 hours in a day, 30 minutes of activity is approximately 2% of your day. Are you seriously telling me that you are busy for the other 98% of your day! “I ache”. Remember in the old days when you hurt yourself, the doctor would tell you to rest for a week, when you visit your doctor now they tell you to keep moving and get strong. (seek medical advice dependent upon your condition) “I have to look after the children”. 1 in 4 under 10s in the UK are obese and 1 in 3 teenagers in the UK are obese. What more of an excuse do you need. Get out with the children, ride bikes, go for a walk, play a game in the garden. By using them as an excuse you are fuelling the childhood obesity problem. “I have injuries” everybody has injuries! You are not alone. But this shouldn’t stop you. Have you ever watched the Paralympics? You don’t hear the athletes moaning that it hurts! When you imagine an older person, in your head they will probably fit one of two profiles. The image will either be that of an elderly person sat in a chair or that of a person who is fit and active, enjoying life, playing badminton or out with a walking group. Which one do you want to be?

To understand where you want to be you first need to understand where you are at. Start by tracking your steps/activity levels. Most smart phones have a tracker app built in (if not download one for free). Or you can purchase a step tracker, these are available from a few pounds on the internet up to the all singing and dancing type such as Fitbit. The minimum steps a day is 10,000 and this shouldn’t change as you get older. Walk to the shops to buy your newspaper Join a walking group Take up a new sport Volunteer at a group. Take a neighbour’s dog for a walk. I have a client that I work with who told me that they go to the gym every day before work but still not losing weight. I suggested that they get a step tracker which they did. After analysing my clients step pattern it showed that they had completed 7000 steps by 9am, brilliant!. This person is an office manager and the rest of the day they were sat behind a desk and by the time they got home they were exhausted so sat in front of the TV all evening and finished the day with an average of 9000 steps. In that persons head they should be losing weight because they exercise daily, but their overall calorie expenditure was not enough. Add to this the fact that most people over eat and the combination isn’t great. The next thing you should do is to start logging everything you eat over a 3 day period including size of portions and how many calories are being consumed, this will assist you to calculate whether the calories you are eating are more than you are expending. Remember, 10,000 steps a day is a minimum, not a target!!! For more information and advice visit my website.

By Haydon Littlewood, Personal trainer at www.bodychange4u.co.uk

18 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

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Home&Garden

WORK - SPACE Modern home life is changing! Families are getting larger, children are living with parents for longer, new houses are becoming smaller and in recent years the number of people working from home is on the rise. So it will come as no surprise that many homeowners feel that they are running out of space.

But what is the solution? Rather than going to the expense and enduring the stress of moving somewhere bigger, homeowners are finding it is often more logical to make the most of the space they already have available and/or by creating additional rooms. Traditionally an extra room would come in the form of an extension but this can be disruptive, messy and often just as expensive as moving. But with advances modern styles, building materials and methods, there is now a genuine alternative option - GARDEN ROOMS are becoming increasingly popular, especially with those who work from home and want pleasant space to run their business at home.

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20 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

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Issue 26 • April / May 2018

By Hannah Stephenson

In Theen Gard

Alan Titchmarshâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tips For Pots Now is the time you need to be planning your summer containers, whether you are going for uniform colours and types of pots, annuals or permanent plantings. I caught up with gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh, who prefers permanent plantings in pots on his own patio. "I have agapanthus in pots, olives in large tubs, lots of clipped box orbs and domes and cones, 16 tubs of camellias because I'm on chalky soil, planted in ericaceous compost. I tend to go for perennials and evergreens in pots generally, although I love popping tulips and daffodils in pots as well." Indeed, year-round and transient displays can be a less labour intensive and, ultimately, cheaper way of keeping interest going on your patio and Alan is the first to offer some advice about them in his book Container Gardening, one of his series of practical guides. An all-year-round display, he says, will need to contain evergreen plants to form a framework that other more transient plants can be built around. "Flowering bulbs will give a burst of colour from midwinter through to midspring. In summer, you can use bedding plants, climbers, summer bulbs, shrubs and perennials. In autumn, fill pots with perennials, late bulbs and corms, and plants for autumn colour or berries.

"Over winter, opt for winter-flowering shrubs, hellebores and structural plants, which look particularly striking covered with frost or snow." Group containers together, which allows you to match flowering and foliage plants and move seasonal flowering plants into the group as they reach their prime. Remove them once they start to fade. Standing pots together also reduces moisture loss as the leaves form layers, which trap moisture underneath, creating a more humid area for all the plants. If you are adding annuals to your permanent scheme, think carefully about colour. "If you want to colour-scheme them so they are all pastel shades and pale blues and purples, that's fine. But if you just want bright, jolly, zingy contrasting colours that's fine too. "Don't be dictated to by other people saying, 'This is tasteful and that isn't'. You need to work out what you like looking at and be brave enough to go for it." Colours generally regarded as working well together are those which are opposite on the colour spectrum - orange works well with purple, red with green. "If you have purples and darker colours you need a sunny spot because they disappear in shade, whereas white and pale blue and pale pink will stand out in shade. But a lot of flowering

22 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

plants don't like a lot of shade," he says. Vibrant colours such as reds, oranges, yellows and reddish purples look good in pots, which have warm colours such as terracotta, browns or yellows. To create a more peaceful, sedate atmosphere, use relaxing colours - blues, mauve, pale pinks and purples, white and cream are also calming. Combine them with a beefy foliage plant, such as hostas, for a wonderful contrast and put them into blue, white, silver or green containers to complete the cool effect. For permanent plantings in pots, Alan recommends using a loam-based compost as it retains both water and nutrients well. Choose pots as big as possible, which will hold more compost and won't dry out as quickly. Every year, check that the roots of permanent plants aren't coming out of the drainage holes in the base of the container or at the surface of the compost. If they are, re-pot them in spring or autumn into a new container, only slightly bigger than the old one, filled with fresh compost of the same mix as the existing growing medium. Large patio plants like trees and shrubs don't need re-potting every year, but each spring give them a top dressing, scraping away the upper layer of the compost and replacing with fresh compost containing slow-release fertiliser.

In Theen Gard

April & May

Camellia

Best of The Bunch

These beautiful, blousy evergreen shrubs look fantastic in early spring, their dazzling flowers in shades of white, pink and red contrasting well with the glossy green leaves. They go well in many situations, against walls, in hedges or as superb standalone specimens in containers. Plant them in acid soil or in ericaceous compost in pots, in sun or dappled shade, and they’re pretty easy to look after. They usually grow into large shrubs or small trees, so give them enough space to fill out. The

most popular species is Camellia japonica, and good varieties of that include C. japonica ‘Alba Plena’, whose small double white flowers open in early spring, and ‘’Adelphe Audusson’, a compact type ideally suited to a container, which produces semi-double red flowers in spring. Other types include C x williamsii ‘Anticipation’, a stunning pink double-flowered variety resembling peony flowers.

Good Enough to Eat!

Sowing early BEETROOT

You can sow early bolt-resistant varieties of beets under cloches or in a frame from mid-March onwards, choosing a sunny site and sowing thinly into finely raked, moist, warm soil at a depth of half an inch in rows about 30cm (12in) apart. This should give you a late May or early June crop. Beetroot grows best in good soil which was dug the previous autumn or winter and enhanced with compost then as necessary. Apply lime if the soil is acid and prepare the seed bed in spring, raking in a general purpose fertiliser two to three weeks before sowing. Thin out when the seedlings are around 3cm high, leaving a single plant at each spot. Keep the area well weeded and water well in dry weather. The globe varieties will be ready for harvesting when the roots are no larger than cricket balls. The popular choice for early sowing is ‘Boltardy’, which is bolt resistant, with dark red flesh. Sow at fortnightly intervals of a continuous supply of tender baby beet. Maincrops are sown later, in May and June, for harvesting from late summer onwards.

Jobs To Do...

• Plant container-grown outdoor grape vines. • Divide hostas before they come into leaf. • Plant roses in heavy soils or in cold areas. • Protect new growth on lilies, delphiniums and any other plants affected, from slugs and snails. • Remove dead leaves from around the basal rosettes of alpine plants to prevent rotting. • Plant herbaceous perennials, including geranium, astrantia and Oriental poppies. • Continue to cultivate and prepare seedbeds, covering them with clear polythene or fleece to warm up the soil before sowing. • Sow sweet peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, celery, salads and globe artichokes in a frost-free greenhouse. • Remove any reverted green shoots on hardy variegated evergreens, to prevent reversion taking over. • Cut out the top rosette of leaves from leggy stems of Mahonia x media cultivars to encourage branching.

3 ways to...

Succeed with tulips in containers

1 2 3

Pack bulbs tightly so that they touch. You don’t have to leave room for the bulbs to spread.

Support taller varieties by growing something wiry like a winter heather around them.

When flowering is finished, move the bulbs into the garden, as they won’t do as well in the pot second time around.

Issue 26 • April / May 2018

Price: £47,905 4 cylinder diesel, 235hp, 480Nm Auto transmission Top speed: 140mph, 0-62mph 7.5secs Fuel: Urban 46.3, extra urban 57.6, combined 53.3 CO2 139g/km

I RECKON Volvo have got it all wrong with the naming of their big luxury estate car. It really shouldn’t be called the V90 Cross Country – Cross Continent would be more appropriate, because it’s the kind of superbly appointed vehicle that you could drive for mile after mile after mile without showing any sign of strain or tiredness. To put it bluntly, it’s bloody brilliant. A car that’s highly efficient, highly comfortable and highly desirable. Born out of a long line of big Volvo estates from the past, its latest smart new look doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten what most of us buy Volvos for – practicality. There’s still that vast amount of boot space before you even think of folding the rear seats. A pleasant mix of brushed metal inserts, very acceptable quality plastics and soft leather greet the occupants in what is a typical functional Volvo cabin, with a decent amount of room for all the occupants, their luggage and labradors. Strong on practicality and with a truly upmarket cabin where the nappa soft leather upholstery is stitched to per-

VOLVO V90 Cross Country Pro fection, the dash area is more minimalist than a Jamie Oliver recipe, in that there are no superfluous buttons and switches to spoil the pure design and look of the interior. Cross Country Pro trim as sampled here (£47,905) includes kit such as a heated steering wheel and windscreen, adaptive beam headlights, ambient lighting, an electric memory driver’s seat, 19-inch alloys, a 1400 watt Bowers and Wilkins audio system and a 12.3inch TFT instrument display. That’s over and above the standard heated leather seats, LED headlights, keyless start and an electric tailgate. Never mind the lengthy list of features aimed at keeping you safe behind the wheel. I’ve never known a car to defrost – and I mean DEFROST – as quickly as this one. Press the necessary buttons and the front and rear screens are ready for action in next to no time. But then the Swedes probably don’t like to hang about on a cold and icy morning as they’re an industrious bunch. They’ve got furniture with funny names to design and build for IKEA, and best selling albums to produce if you’re a four piece Eurovision winning band.

24 www.thevinemagazine.co.uk

And it’s not a car where you can legitimately do an Arsene Wenger and say ‘well, it was a bit of a letdown’ because its 235hp and 480Nm of torque gives it more than adequate punch when you want to get past something on a twisty A road. Even the extra ground clearance has not had a detrimental effect on the ride quality in my opinion. It kind of alludes to the fact that Volvo have set their sights firmly on a new breed of owner – one a bit younger than past customers and who doesn’t necessarily need a tartan travel rug for the knees of his front seat passenger. I can fully appreciate why people who have hair that’s maybe a bit lighter in colour than some of their neighbours would want to drive a car like a Volvo. But it’s not just silvertops who buy them, as I know a couple of younger humanoids who are very definitely fans of the Swedish marque. They want to feel that they’ve bought into something that is top quality, they want to be comfortable and above all else they want to feel safe at the wheel. Volvo does this quite admirably. Volvo drivers don’t take risks. And you wouldn’t be with one of these.

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Puzzles

Step from the bottom to the top rung by changing one letter at a time

SLING

Answers on page 30

Across

Down

6. Seclusion (7) 7. Vestibule (5) 9. Pretend (5) 10. Peaceful (7) 12. Do research (11) 14. Filming (11) 18. Obsolete (7) 19. Corner (5) 21. Condition (5) 22. Merit (7)

1. Flat (5) 2. Beginning (6) 3. Manner (3) 4. Dull (6) 5. Preclude (7) 8. Incomplete (7) 11. Condescended (7) 13. Economical (7) 15. Reliable (6) 16. Impede (6) 17. Bondman (5) 20. Seat (3)

1 4

1 9

9 2 8

4 6

PLANE

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SAPPHIRE SOCIAL CLUB Sapphire Social Club - this social club caters for the unattached aged 50+. We meet weekly in Hitchin and organize a variety of social events every month. No joining fee for the first two months. Come along and meet new friends. Tel Joyce 07952 678021 or Ian 07900 890583 for details www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk KNIT AND NATTER GROUP Every Tuesday, 10am-12pm Join our friendly Knit and Natter group every Tuesday at Lewsey Library. Come and share your experience, or get some great hints and tips, and meet new people. Tea and biscuits provided. The group is always looking for donations of wool; knitting needles etc. so if you have anything you no longer need, just drop it off at the library.Free, donations welcome

LUTON POETRY SOCIETY Last Saturday of every month, 2-4pm at Luton Central Library. £3, free for Poetry Society member (£20 annual membership) Our meetings usually take place on the last Saturday of each month at Luton Central Library (3rd Floor) For more information visit www.lutonculture.com/luton-libraries or call 01582 547 418

WOMEN’S WORLD

Meet 3rd Wednesday of the month, at St Anne’s Church Hall, Crawley Green Road, at 8pm. Join our friendly group of ladies for talks, activities and outings. For more information about our next meeting ring Lynne on 01582 617470.

5TH STOPSLEY GUIDES Girlguiding Luton South Division are looking for new girls aged 5+ & volunteers to join us. We are part of Girlguiding UK and enjoy taking part in new things, working towards interest badges and having lots of fun. Anyone who is interested in finding out more can register online: www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus and this will list a full selection of groups available closest to you or you can email us pr.lutonsdiv@bedsguiding.org.uk

FLEXERCISE EXERCISE Thursday 2 -3 £3.50 Warden Hill Community Centre Gentle Exercise for Older People - Men and Women -With No jumping about or running around, the class includes WARDEN AFTERNOON CLUB low impact and every exercise you will Meets every Tuesday 2 - 4pm be faced with will have a specific benefit Warden Hill Community Centre (rear to your body and your unique make up. of the Warden Tavern) The class is aimed at improving and We are a recently established group of maintaining flexibility and balance, thus LUTON WRITERS’ CLUB friendly ladies and gentlemen who meet enabling you to be confident and enjoy Every other thursdayat 5.30pm weekly for companionship, activities life. For more info Tel Lorraine Luton Central Library and refreshments. If you would like 07868 030540 A free club, open to those interested some company, or know someone who in writing. would benefit from joining us, please BEDFORDSHIRE GUILD OF THE PARKSIDE SINGERS come along any Tuesday - everyone is WEAVERS, SPINNERS & DYERS. Do you enjoy singing? very welcome. A friendly group of textile crafts people The Parkside Singers is a lively mixed For more information contact Sue on who meet in choir, singing four-part harmony music 07706895444 or Flitwick Village Hall twice a month. including pop, songs from musicals and email sueblee@hotmail.co.uk First Tuesday evening of each month some choral favourites such as Ave 7.30 - 9-30 and Verum and The Lords Prayer. YARNIES KNITTING AND Third Saturday, all day, 10.30 to 4.30. Call Claire on 01525 753110. STITCHING GROUP IN LUTON We welcome visitors interested in WHO- We are a friendly group who seeing what we do, so please pay a visit LUTON AND DISTRICT meet to chat and use lovely yarn to knit, to our website PHILATELIC SOCIETY crochet, braid, stitch, weave.... www.bedsguildwsd.blogspot.co.uk If you collect postage stamps, postcards WHERE- We meet at the Balcony Bar, or postal history why not come along Venue 360, Gypsy Lane, Luton, LU1 WIDOWS & WIDOWERS CLUB and meet fellow collectors? We usually 3JH. www.venue360.co.uk. There is We are an active Widows and meet on the first Friday of the month* plenty of free parking and Luton Park- Widowers club. at Bushmead Primary School, Luton, way station is 5 mins walk away. Meetings are held locally and new LU2 7EU from 7.00pm to 10.00pm. WHEN- The second Wednesday of members are always welcome. Your first visit is free! New members every month at 7.30pm. If you would like to make new friends are always welcome.(*Dates may Everyone is welcome to join us, begin- and join in our many outings and activichange if the school is closed). ners or experienced stitchers. Just turn ties please ring Jenny 01582 672766 or Call Fin on 01582 453244 or email up or for more information contact Val 01582 659717 or email Carol at finodon@hotmail.com for a proShirley fuchsia@hotmail.co.uk or visit carol.hodges@ntlworld.com gramme of events or more information. us at www.ravelry.com Issue 26 • April / May 2018

Looking Up!

Answers

Bedfordshire’s Night Sky

Step On It

April and May 2018

SLING SLANG SLANT PLANT PLANK PLANE

Venus Dazzles in the Evening Sky: Look west about 60-minutes after sunset on any clear evening this April and May and you’ll see Venus put on a dazzling show. The brightest planet in our night sky hangs low over the horizon, following the sun down as twilight fades to darkness. It’s a striking view to the naked eye, even more so in binoculars and telescopes. A small telescope reveals Venus to be a fat crescent shape, a little like a miniature version of our very own moon a few days before it reaches a full moon.

Crossword Across: 6 Retreat 7 Lobby 9 Feign 10 Pacific 12 Investigate 14 Photography 18 Disused 19 Angle 21 State 22 Deserve

Catch the Lyrids Meteor Shower: On the nights of 21 – 23 April the Lyrids meteor shower hits its peak activity. Look high up towards your east from midnight onwards to catch some spring shooting stars raining across the sky. If you’re lucky you might see one or two fireballs amid the display. These are larger pieces of space rock burning up in our atmosphere.

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Spot Majestic Jupiter: May 2018 sees Jupiter reach its closest point to Earth for this year. The biggest planet in our solar system is easy to spot being the brightest star-like object in the south-east as night falls. By 1am you’ll find Jupiter almost directly south about 25-degrees above the horizon. Binoculars held steady show Jupiter as a small disc flanked by some of its moons. A small telescope is all you need to see the dark bands in Jupiter’s atmosphere and the Great Red Spot storm system.

Down: 1 Level 2 Origin 3 Way 4 Boring 5 Obviate 8 Partial 11 Deigned 13 Thrifty 15 Trusty 16 Hinder 17 Slave 20 Pew

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Issue 26 • April / May 2018

WE ARE ALWAYS

LOOKING FOR MORE PROPERTIES

FREE

VALUATION With decades of experience and a network of over 30 branches we’ll get you moving, whether buying or selling. Get in touch and we’ll take care of it. harrisonmurray.co.uk thenottingham.com/property It is not The Nottingham’s or Harrison Murray’s policy to accept instructions where there is a Sole Agency Agreement in existence, until that agreement has expired or is terminated.

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