Out & About

Finance Money on my mind...the Martin Lewis column

He’s the UK’s leading money saving expert - a journalist and presenter who has kept millions of pounds in people’s pockets as well as lifting the lid on the threats and dangers we need to be aware of as consumers. In this month’s column, Martin Lewis looks at haggling, and discusses whether it’s a dying art into which we need to breathe new life.

We have a real aversion to haggling in this country – in fact, I would say we are some of the world’s worst hagglers.

We’ve lost the bravado and confi dence we once had to cut a deal, yet if you master haggling, and it is an artform, it’s fun and actually adds a layer of enjoyment to the process of buying and selling.

Most people encounter haggling when it comes to their utilities and other service providers, and in simple terms, if you don’t haggle when it comes to renewing your broadband or TV package or mobile contract or car insurance or whatever it is, you are simply costing yourself money that could translate to a meal, or a deposit for a car, or a holiday.

The fi rst part of haggling where utilities are concerned is to get on price comparison sites in order to get a benchmark of what is

or whatever it is, you are simply costing yourself money that again when any promotional period ends.

Mostly, be charming, friendly and forceful, and enjoy the process of haggling!

available elsewhere, because that’s your target. Usually these best offers will be in the form of ‘new customer’ initiatives, though as an existing customer who has already paid into the pot, why the hell should you not be qualifying for the same deals.

At the end of the day, a lot of haggling comes down to being honest, forceful and confi dent, but also charming and friendly. Explain your budget, explain the better deal being offered by another provider, or by your own provider to new customers, and make it clear you will leave unless something changes. Of course, many of us know those best deals come when, as an existing customer, you get put through to disconnections – it’s the point at which your provider is really just one step away from losing you for good, and it is those customer service agents who have the ability to get you a much better price.

Ultimately, it is your negotiation here that will count, but if you don’t get the deal you think you deserve, my advice is to walk away.

If you can negotiate a new deal, don’t get caught on a long agreement, and do remember to phone back to renegotiate again when any promotional period ends.

Mostly, be charming, friendly and forceful, and enjoy the process of haggling!

Saturday 18th June

3pm - 8pm Grove House Gardens - Free

Enjoy five hours of music where there will be an outside bar, catering and small children’s ride. To mark the Queen’s Jubilee, we are excited to announce the theme for this year’s event is ‘Best of British through the Decades.’ A survey was conducted via our Facebook page with over 1,500 votes received, the top four acts chosen were: 3.00pm The Beatles 4.20pm Elton John 5.30pm Freddie Mercury 7.00pm Madness

Party in the Park

Saturday 9th July 12 noon - 8pm Grove House Gardens FREE EVENT

Party in the Park is back and we’re ‘All Together Now!’ This event consists of 8 hours of family fun! Visit our FREE Kidzone area for under 16s, full of activities, entertainment and games. There will also be plenty of charity and craft stalls plus a fantastic funfair. Enjoy live music and entertainment on stage throughout the day including Bhangra Smash Up who will be performing mainstream chart music and classic hits fusing traditional Dhol drumming with Eastern and Western music. Then get ready for our main evening entertainment with a fantastic Bob Marley Tribute at 5.45 pm. As a finale, this year we are thrilled to announce that the legendary Liverpool band The Farm will be headlining Party in the Park! The group had eight top forty hit singles in the UK including ‘Groovy Train’ and ‘All Together Now’ that were a soundtrack for a generation. So, get down to Grove House Gardens, bring your family and friends and celebrate being All Together Now and enjoy a full day of fun, music and hopefully sunshine!

30th July 10.30am - 4.30pm

Priory Gardens

Visit Priory Gardens and experience culture, music and entertainment from Around the World. You will not need a passport as we will be bringing the world to you! There will be plenty to see and do including music, dance, crafts and storytelling. This year’s Around the World will also be featuring the Dunstable Festival of Archaeology celebrating the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) and the Council for British Archaeology’s (CBA’s) Festival of Archaeology themed around ‘Journey’. If you are interested in learning more about Dunstable’s heritage and past, meeting local community groups, special guests and experts from various local archaeological groups, this is one event not to be missed!

2022

9 June The Bread of Life by Tony Woodhouse 23 June Town Twinning Porz am Rhein and Bourgoin-Jallieu by John Stevens and Cllr Peter Hollick 7 July Our Local Anglo-Saxons by Joan Schneider 21 July Dangerous Dunstable? by Rita Swift Organised by Dunstable Town Guides

Our much-loved Sunday Band Concerts start off with Dunstable Town Band performing on Sunday 26 June. The schedule consists of two traditional brass bands performing per day, so come down to Grove House Gardens to enjoy the beautiful park setting and listen to these fantastic bands.

Sun 26 June at 12 noon Dunstable Town Band

Sun 26 June at 2.45pm Dunstable Salvation Army

Sun 3 July at 12 noon The Heath Band

Sun 3 July at 2.45 pm Toddington Town Band

Houghton Regis Village Green 9th July at 9am

Houghton Regis Carnival IS BACK on Saturday 9th July! The event will begin at 9am on the Village Green, with a variety of stalls, displays, rides and attractions! The event includes will musical entertainment from ‘The Guilty Dogs’ fronted by Billy Lee! The day would not be complete without will be refreshments served from Houghton Regis W.I in the Village Green Pavilion as well as hot food stalls, face painting and ice cream too!

Skate Jam

22nd July at 12pm

The popular Skate Jam event will be taking place at Tithe Farm Recreation Ground from 12 noon on Friday 22nd July! The amazing Team3Sixty will be demonstrating a wide array of stunts and tricks, and there will be activities to take part in! For those riders and skaters, there is also a competition to show off their skills on the Skate Park! A perfect way to start the summer holidays!

Open Air Cinema

Tuesday 26th July

Houghton Regis Town Council is very excited about the forthcoming Open Air Film Screening, which will be taking place at Houghton Hall Park on Tuesday 26th July! More details will be released soon, check out the website and social media for more details!

More Summer Fun!...

There will be a range of activities taking place in the town over the summer holidays, such as a mobile farm, Inflatable Fun, Reptile Encounters, a Magic Show and a trip to Southend! For more details please contact info@houghtonregis.org.uk or visit the website.

For further details on all events visit HRTC website www.houghtonregis.org.uk or the Town Council’s Facebook pags www.facebook.com/hrtowncouncil and the Town Council’s Events Facebook page www.facebook.com/Houghton-Council-Town-Events

Open Wednesdays

Our Wednesday Open Garden Season at the Luton Hoo Estate Walled Garden is underway from 10:30 -16:00 until the end of September. Admission price is £7.50 which includes a free guided historical garden tour by one of our researchers which will happen on the hour throughout the day. There may be opportunities for a tour of the Victorian farm buildings and also of the Dairy. You can book online: trybooking.co.uk/BMNU Season tickets are also available. Free large car park! Come for the whole day with time for a tour; for buying produce from the garden including Luton Hoo honey as well as plants, seasonal fruit and vegetables and cut flowers; and time for that all important refreshment break or two from our Woodyard cafe in the Shooting Lodge which is accessed via our picturesque woodland walk. 2022 is the 21st anniversary of the start of the volunteer project to rejuvenate the Walled Garden which was designed by Capability Brown, so our volunteers will be keen to show you the difference those years have made and there will be various photographic displays around the garden. Other upcoming events include:

Open Farm Sunday on June 12th from 11 - 3; children’s workshops during the summer holidays; a study day in October looking back on our 21 years of volunteering; Autumn Open Day October 26th. See Facebook (search luton Hoo Walled Garden ) for further information or visit our website: www.lutonhooestate.co.uk where you will also find information about upcoming theatrical performances: The Secret Garden on 29th June, Cinderella on 26th July and Romeo & Juliet on 2nd August. Talks and tours for groups are also available email office@lutonhooestate.co.uk phone 01582 721443 for more information as well as details of all our activities and events. Look forward to seeing you. 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.

Toddington Open Gardens 2022

Saturday 2nd July: 11.00am - 5.00pm Sunday 3rd July: 1.00pm - 6.00pm

There will be about 10 gardens opening (most for both days but the programme will show if there are any only open on one of the days). Tickets cost £5 per adult – accompanied children are free. Tickets can be used on both days if visitors want to take the tour more slowly. Tickets can be bought at the Wilkinson Church Hall (next to the church in the centre of the village) or at any of the participating gardens which will be sign-posted. There will be a plant stall in the churchyard and refreshments and other things in the Wilkinson Church Hall. The event is run by Friends of Toddington Parish Church (registered charity number 1028238) raising money for the restoration and maintenance of St George of England Church, Toddington which is celebrating its 800th anniversary in 2022. We do hope that you will be able to come along and support this event. There are a range of gardens all within walking distance and we are sure you will have a thoroughly enjoyable visit.

What’s on

Eclipse Gardens

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Large and small jobs undertaken Free quotes

Office: 01525 382802 Mobile: 07974 927496

Unit 2 Acacia Close, Cherry Court Way Leighton-Buzzard Beds LU7 4QE info@homecountieselectrical.co.uk | www.homecountieselectrical.co.uk

PEGSDON NATURE DETECTIVES: Invertebrate DayNorth Chilterns Chalk Thursday 1st Augusta joint event with the BNHS Events 10.30am - 12.30pm £3 per child (accompanying adults free) Pegsdon Hills Pegsdon nr Hitchin, SG5 3JU Saturday 11th June, 10.00am-3.00pm, Flitwick Moor and Folly Wood (TL045354)

Bookings & further information

T: 01525 874317 Learn about the fascinating invertebrates to E: Toddington@wildlifebcn.orgbe found at this superb reserve. Bedfordshire Natural History Society County Recorders will

BLOW’S DOWNS NATURE DETECTIVES

be searching for their specialist subjects and Thursday 22nd August experts and enthusiasts will be on hand to 10.30am - 12.30pm help with identification. Ideal for families and Price £3 per child The Hay Field, Blow’s Downs individuals to go off to the Moor to 'bug hunt' Jeans Way, LU5 4PW - equipment will be provided for this. Morning Bookings & further information and afternoon sessions, come to either or bring T: 01525 874317lunch and stay for both.

E: Toddington@wildlifebcn.org

Wildflower walk

AUTUMN LADY’S TRESSES RAMBLE *with Graham Bellamy Sunday 25th AugustSaturday 9th July, 10.00am-12.00, Fancott Meadow 10.30am - 12.30pm £5, £3.50 for members *£3.00 per adult Knocking Hoe Nature Reserve,

YOUTH RANGERS

Pegsdon, Shillington Nr Hitchin, SG5 Bookings & further information Join Dr Graham Bellamy on a tour round this T: 01525 874317 spectacular traditional flower-rich meadow with E: Toddington@wildlifebcn.orgboth sweet vernal and quaking-grass and the adjacent mixed-wood spinney. Places are limited. The Fancott Pub is close by for lunch.

North Chilterns Chalk Events

ALL SAINTS CHURCH, TILSWORTH TRADITIONAL VILLAGE FETE

POP-UP family Watch Explorer Backpack Saturday 25th June 2pm - 4.30PmDay Join us to discover some of the In the grounds of Tilsworth Manoramazing creatures that live on Pegsdon. Fun for all the family including:Borrow an explorer backpack full of Live entertainment, Teas on the lawnequipment that will turn you and your family into nature detectives. Make yourBbq, stalls, games, raffle, classic carsown mini-beast to take home. No wheelchair access. Off road parking

Ashton Square Markets Ashton Square Markets

POP-UP family Watch Explorer Backpack

Day

Join us to discover some of the amazing creatures that live on Blow’s Downs. Jubilee Market

Borrow an explorer backpack full of Saturday 11th June - 10 am to 3 pmequipment that will turn you and your family into nature detectives. Make your Spring Summer 2018Crazy golf, face painting, live music own mini-beast to take home. and a truck convoy from 10am -11am

No wheelchair access.

When most other orchids have finished flowers Autumn Lady’s Tresses put on their show. Join local expert Graham Bellamy, coauthor of ‘Wild Orchids of Bedfordshire’ for a meander through Knocking Hoe reserve to look for these rare, delicate orchids.

Thursday 1st August

Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve,Open to all. To reserve a place or for further Spring Summer 2018Pegsdon nr Hitchin, SG5 3JU information please email Ann at flitvale.info@ Thursday 22nd August gmail.comor ring or text on 07580 178889.

Blow’s Downs Nature Reserve

Wildlife surveying and practical hands on conservation. Help make a real difference for local wildlife whilst learning new skills and meeting like-minded friends. Add something amazing to your CV by volunteering and working towards the nationally recognised John Muir Conservation Award. Suitable for young adults aged 13 - 19.