April/May 2015
the
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Chiltern Hills Vintage Rally
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ON THE COVER
12 Chiltern Hills Vintage Rally 16 Buckinghamshire Food & Drink Awards 2015 20 Win Tickets to The Sound of Music COMMUNITY 23 Yorkshire 3 Peaks for PACE 30 Out & About HOME & GARDEN 18 Gardening in April 22 Chelsea Flower Show
CONSUMER ADVICE 14 Your Money Matters 20 Autobiographies 24 It s the Law ENTERTAINMENT 26 Book Review 28 Puzzles 31 Puzzle Answers TRAVEL & LEISURE 6 Traveller’s Tale -New England 10 Traveller’s Tale continued 29 Looking Up in Beds & Bucks
Copy Deadline for the
June/July Issue is 18th May Editor: Andrena Carden-White Advertising: andrena@thevinemagazine.com Telephone: 01296 273473 Mobile: 0797 155 4604 Publisher: The Vine Magazine Limited There are 6 Vine Magazine publications Leighton Buzzard, MK South, Aylesbury, Luton, Dunstable and Dunstable Villages a total distribution of 64,000. For full contact details of all our magazines and distribution visit www.thevinemagazine.com
Hello and welcome to the latest issue. A special congratulations to the huge number of pubs that have been nominated for the Best Gastro Pub Award in this area. Now it is down to everyone to get voting for the favourite. Find out how on page 16. Fancy a walk for charity? See pages 23 and 25 for more details. I hope you enjoy this packed issue, have a great Easter & Bank Hols Andrena The Vine Magazine
We do our best to get things right but neither the publisher or contributors will take any liability for loss or damage by errors. The Vine Magazine Limited does not officially endorse advertisements. No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission
PFPA10336_MS271114_10_14_PFPA10336_MS271114_10_14 31/10/2014 14:46 Page 1
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A Travellers Tale New England in the Fall (Plus Some History As well) By Paul Heley
A clapboard New England
A
"Minuteman" statue, Lexington MA A covered bridge
Memorial to 1620 landing place
Fall colours in New England
few years back, Val and I decided to say Yes to an attractive brochure advertising the splendours of the Fall colours in New England. These brochures are very clever because obviously - they choose the prettiest of pictures to lure you and, what is more, they don't point out that the different tree varieties come into their autumn colours at different times - so some of the trees won't have done anything by the time you get there! It's very much tied up with date and, perhaps, when we went in mid September, it might have been a bit early; early October is most likely the best time. But, even so, we did catch some really lovely views. However, New England is not just pretty trees; there's also an architectural style with characteristic "clapboard" churches different to most of America; and there's also more history in this area than anywhere else. So how did it go with us? We started off at Boston, Massachusetts, and found the place undergoing an "inversion": an enormous civil engineering project was turning the place literally upside down. It must have cost millions more than an arm and a leg. However, we were shepherded around the touristy sights of the city - as best as the tour operator could manage midst the chaos - and saw places like Benjamin Franklin's statue, the Old Corner Bookstore, the Old State House, Quincy Market, Paul Revere's House and the Old North Church. Many, if not most, of these places have historical links with the opening stages of the American War of Independence in 1775 and are part of what is known as "Boston's Freedom Trail". This war happened almost by accident and, apart from a few hotheads on the American side, nobody really wanted a war. Admittedly, the British government had acted in a very high handed manner over certain aspects of the law and things got badly out of hand on a few occasions. But there wasn't a deep seated hatred of the British: it was almost a case of their having acted foolishly and needing to be taught a lesson. But unfortunately, together with many skirmishes and misunderstandings (eg the problem over taxation leading to the "Boston Tea Party"), things became very serious indeed and grew eventually into a full scale conflict. It's interesting to note that, following the earlier 1620 landing, a steady stream of refugees escaping (mainly) religious persecution back in England had settled in the area which became known as New England. Looking at the maps of these six states, one sees scores of English place names which the migrants brought with them; one of which is Dunstable following a slightly later migration and subsequent development in 1656. It's also interesting to note that the people of the "new" Dunstable were quick to join in with the rebellion, remembering as they did the ungodly treatment to which they had been subjected back home.
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The Old State House, Boston As part of our tour, we were taken to different places where such "minutemen" had been recruited, or battles fought, and we were struck both with the pride felt by Americans over this particular episode of their history whilst, at the same time, almost a sadness that it had ever come to war. Many Americans are very pro-British and have a great fondness for the country and their ancestry. We were taken to places like Concord, Lincoln and Lexington and while travelling around caught many glimpses of the beauty offered by this part of the world at this time of the year as well as some of the covered bridges (sometimes called "Lovers' Bridges") for which this region is famous. Another historical place of interest was Salem (scene of the infamous 1692/3 trials when many innocent women were condemned as witches on religious grounds; and then hanged, tortured or burnt). But perhaps the most historically significant was the visit to Plymouth on Cape Cod where the "Pilgrim Fathers" first set foot in 1620 following their voyage from England in the "Mayflower". The actual landing spot (so they say!) is commemorated and there is also a statue to the chief of the Indian tribe who gave the newcomers food during their first harsh winter and kept them alive. Another (non historical) place visited was the Norman Rockwell Museum in Arlington, Vermont. Here scores of his "folksy" drawings and posters are on show. For many years he drew for a weekly magazine and his drawings have become national treasures and originals are very valuable. Somehow he seemed able to capture "ordinary" life of the 1920s in these, often very amusing, sketches. Our holiday lasted for a little over a week and we returned to the upside down world of Boston and escaped by going on a whale watching trip. Fortunately, a few had come out to greet us and it was very humbling to realise just how puny we are in comparison with these magnificent creatures. Whilst in New England, we learned the definition of a "Yankee". It runs like this :To a citizen of the world, a Yankee is an American; To an American, a Yankee is a Northener; To a Northener, a Yankee is a New Englander; To a New Englander, a Yankee is someone from Vermont; To a Vermonter, a Yankee is a person who eats pie for breakfast! (But there are other, more etymologically reasoned,
Many of us will rejoice at the thought of two bank holidays during May. UK bank holidays have been in existence since the 1871 Bank Holidays Act when initially four specific days were created as days off. There have been additions over the years including New Years Day in 1974 and the first Monday in May in 1978. An extra bank holiday was created as a one off event in 2011 for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on 29th April, and in 2012 for the Queens Diamond Jubilee on 5th June. Bank holidays can be declared by statute or Royal proclamation, the latter is also commonly used to move those holidays that would otherwise fall on a weekend to a week day. There is no automatic right to time off on these days but many employers do pay staff to take the day off or if they work they pay them additional wages. There are frequent campaigns for further bank holidays to be added, commonly in relation to the main Saints days, St David’s, St Patrick’s, St Andrew’s and St George’s for example. Bank Holidays are now frequently chosen as dates for special events and many will choose to book holiday for the full week that includes a bank holiday in order to spend time with family and friends. We can look forward to two bank holidays this May with the Early May Bank Holiday falling on Monday 4th May and the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday 25th May.
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we should make every effort to raise this amount as well. We managed and literally with hours to spare saw Diane off on her adventure. Our efforts were made all the more satisfying when she returned proudly displaying her Gold Medal
The Chiltern Hills Vintage Rally - A bit of history The Rally is organised by The Game Club, an Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire organisation that raises money for local charitable causes. The club started in 1985 when a group of 12-15 friends decided to meet three times a year for luncheon at The Partridge Arms in Aston Clinton. At one of those meetings the landlord invited those present to put some money in a collection box he had been given that morning. Funds were being raised to help finance Diane Coates, a wheelchair bound patient at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital National Spinal Unit, on a trip to compete in the rifle-shooting event at the Paralympic Games taking place after the 1988 able-bodied Olympics in Seoul. We asked the target sum being raised, and were told it was around £2000 to cover flights, carer’s expenses etc. It was suggested that we raise the lot, this was agreed and fund raising events such as 24 hour sponsored snooker, a sponsored walk and race nights etc started immediately. After we had raised the money we decided that we should find a proper title for ourselves to use at the official presentation. The name “The Game Club” was decided upon, taken from The Partridge Arms where we enjoyed our lunches, a partridge was adopted as the club emblem. About three weeks before the event Diane discovered that in order to satisfy the competition rules she needed a special wheelchair costing £1650.00. It was decided that having got so far
We had all had so much fun from the hectic activity surrounding our fund raising efforts that a proposal to continue sponsoring good causes was readily agreed upon. And so it has continued to this day. Game Club membership has now grown to some 30 people who organise several fund raising events, the main one being “The Chiltern Hills Vintage Vehicle Rally” Sunday 17th May between 10 am and 5 pm. The site is situated at: Weedon Park, Weedon Hill, near Aylesbury Location Postcode for Sat Navs HP22 4NN Between Aylesbury and Whitchurch on the A413 Buckingham Road Next to The Bucks County Show Site PUBLIC ENTRY £6.00 ACCOMPANIED CHILDREN ENTER FREE vist www.chilternhillsrally.org.uk for entry details and forms Apart from circa 1000 vehicles on show there are a variety of entertainments etc to make the day enjoyable for visitors and entrants alike these include:Children’s Rides and Slides A Fun Dog Show - Bring your pet along - entries on the day.50 or so Trade Stands, Auto Jumble, A Beer Tent, Specialist Teas and Coffees, A Pig Roast, Burgers, Ice Creams etc
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Registration opens for new married couples tax break HMRC have announced that registration for the new ‘Marriage Allowance’ for married couples and those in civil partnerships is now open. From 6 April 2015 certain married couples and civil partners may be eligible for a new Transferable Tax Allowance referred to by the Government as the ‘Marriage Allowance’. The allowance will enable eligible spouses and civil partners to transfer a fixed amount of their personal allowance to their spouse. The option to transfer is not available to unmarried couples. The option to transfer will be available to couples where neither pays tax at the higher or additional rate. If eligible, one partner will be able to transfer 10% of their personal allowance to the other partner which means £1,060 for the 2015/16 tax year which could save them tax of up to £212 a year. Couples can register their interest to receive the Allowance at www.gov.uk/marriageallowance. The government estimates that more than four million married couples and 15,000 civil partnerships will be eligible for the tax break. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: ‘We made a promise to introduce a recognition of marriage into our tax system – and now we’re delivering on that promise.
This includes updating the tax system so that it recognises marriage and civil partnerships. Our new Marriage Allowance means saving £212 on your tax bill couldn’t be simpler or more straightforward.’ From April, HMRC will contact those who have already registered for the ‘Marriage Allowance’ to apply. People can register at any point in the tax year and still receive the full benefit of the allowance. It is also possible to claim the allowance after the end of the tax year where claimants are unsure if they will qualify. Applying online is simple. One person in a couple will apply online to transfer the allowance to their spouse or civil partner, and HMRC will tell the recipient about the change to their Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax code. Want to know more? Follow us @ClarkHowes or call +44(0)1525 853004.
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BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BEST GASTRO PUB - LET THE VOTING COMMENCE The Vine Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the Best Gastro Pub Category in this year’s Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards 2015 . The first stage of the Buckinghamshire Food and Drink Awards finished on March 1st, we caught up with spokesperson for the awards Karen McGeeney and asked her how things were going... we have been inundated with nominations and are delighted that 160 venues have been nominated and votes cast across all three counties has reached a staggering 13,000! The next stage is the voting, the closing date for voting is 1st May 2015 – no votes will be accepted after this date, unless an extension has been officially announced. These awards are decided solely by a public vote, the nominees with the most votes in each category will seize their category award. The Awards will take place on 1st June at Horwood House
Proud to sponsor Buckinghamshire’s Gastro Pub of the Year
The Oak Aston Clinton
VOTE FOR US HOW TO VOTE FOR YOUR LOCAL 1. Visit www.bfda.co.uk 2. Select “Categories” from the menu at the top 3. Select “Best Gastro Pub of the Year” from the list. 4. Click “Vote” 5. Fill in your details* and select your local from the “select venue” drop
The Vine spoke to Patrick at The Oak, Aston Clinton about their nomination...
Why do you think The Oak has been nominated for the Best Gastro Pub 2015?
The Oak does have a lot to offer but I like to think that it is the friendly welcome and warm atmosphere that keeps our customers coming back to us.
What makes The Oak so special?
We have a great menu choice of home made, cooked on the premises food this includes our Pride of Britain menu which focuses on traditional British dishes such as Fish & Chips, Liver & Bacon and Cottage Pie.
What should new visitors try?
down box. *Your details are required to ensure fair voting.
Definitely The Oak's famous Hanging Kebabs. We have a choice of kebabs including a vegetarian option, served with pitta, a selection of dips, chips and a greek salad.
As well as a great menu we hold a selection of real ales and award winning beers and we host Oakfest every year, a beer and cider festival. This year it is on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May
the
We have a cosy real fire in winter and a large garden for the summer. We are also a dog friendly pub and they are welcome in the ale bar and garden.
Why should people vote for you?
We are honoured to be nominated but it would be nice if people vote for us because they feel at home in our pub and love our food. www.theoakastonclinton.net 01296 630466
In The Garden
April Pleasure Projects April is a great month for a garden project; one which can be achieved in a morning or an afternoon, and which improves a few square metres. You’ll feel you’ve achieved something wonderful and if you break the whole garden into a series of small projects it suddenly appears more manageable. Here are three to get you started. Lawns always look bedraggled after the winter. Remove dead grass by raking the surface with a wire toothed rake. Improve drainage on heavy soil by spiking it with a garden fork every 6 inches (15cm) or so, to a depth of about 4 inches (10cm), giving the fork a good wiggle each time. Sweep sharp sand into the holes with a broom. Then mow the lawn with the blades set on high and remove the clippings. Two weeks later apply a combined weed killer and fertilizer. If you’re lucky it will rain within 24 hours. If not just water it in. Mow weekly to keep the lawn thick and healthy.
Seating
You don’t need a huge patch to enjoy growing strawberries. Plant a few in pots as a treat. Buy young, rich green plants which have been certified virus-free. Plant 3-4 in a 12 inch (30cm) clay pot. The crowns (where shoots meet roots) should be level with the compost surface. Water them in and stand in the shelter of a house wall. If you have a greenhouse or a cold frame they will establish more quickly and fruit earlier. Pinch off any runners which form.
The Lawn
Don’t forget an all weather seat so you can sit and contemplate all your hard work over a cup of tea or a nip of something stronger. Teak from renewable resources is fantastic but cast iron or aluminium is also good, though you’ll need a cushion to protect your posterior on cold days! Position it in a sunny area. Buy a few flowering daffodils, tulips and pansies and plant them in a pretty pot next to the bench, then sit back and enjoy.
Strawberry Pots
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net to deliver a first-rate drive.
The latest Nissan Qashqai, Anyway, back to the Tekna trim Qashqai under review. The which went on sale in g through a six-speed manual transmission, the 1.2Nissan benefits from darkness January is available piercingand Bi-LED headlamps and ne packs a punch,2014, offering sharper acceleration it excels when it comes to kit. flexibility than the first generation Qashqai’s 1.6-litre in four time-honoured The car comes equipped with grades: Visia, Acenta, 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, Acenta Premium and part-leather seats, a large glass ts modest size, the engine’s low weight and more heated seats, and front and Tekna. also mean it’s cleaner androof, ient operation more
rear parking sensors. There’s also
cal than the model it replaces. The 1.2 engine emits touchscreen display, a seven-inch The model tested here comes g/km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the outgoing 1.6-litre DAB digital radio, and smartphone in flagship Tekna trim. But we’ll connectivity. nit), and has an average fuel consumption figure of come to that in a bit. The Qashqai is available with a . Firstly, here’s some background. The second generation, fam-
petrol or diesel engine; the review
car came amily ily car,oriented you’d expect safety to be a priority for with turbocharged car is now longer, petrol But it turns out that loweryou’d and wider, giving a morefeatures apower. hqai – and be right. TheitNissan host the Nissan doesn’t need anything imposing stance while maintainative safety features which helped it confidently huge under the bonnet to deliver a ing a raised position. The Euro NCAP's tests driving to record the maximum five-star first-rate drive.
vehicle under review is frontMotoring through a six-speed wheel drive, the set-up which manual transmission, the 1.2-litre Nissan says will account for most engine packs ed to sales, offer the best possible levels of protection for a punch, offering but all-wheel drive is availsharper the fresh particularly shone in the Childacceleration and greater able Qashqai too. flexibility t tests.The Based on readings frommodern the dummies usedthan the first generation Qashqai's exterior looks Qashqai’s 1.6-litre unit. and there’s a better qualitypoints feel tofor its the Qashqai scored maximum the18-month cabin - perfect for many years Despite its modest size, the on of an old infant. engine’s low weight and more of hardcore family use.car The–rangebasis alone, I’m sold on the but thenfuel-efficient I do have operation also mean topping Tekna model features an onth old and two other small children to take to it’s cleaner and more economiarray of technologies that highlight can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do cal than the model it replaces. the Japanese motor manufacturThe 1.2 engine emits just 129g/ rents. er’s lead in the crossover market. km of CO₂ (15g/km less than the But hang on, what is a crossooutgoing 1.6-litre petrol unit), and ver vehicle? Well, it’s a motor this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – fuel consumption has an average built on a car platform, combinmeans you lose all individuality when you merge figure of 50.4mpg. ing characters of a Sport Utility vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside Vehicle (SUV) with elements from Being a family car, you’d expect safety to be a priority for the ol gates. an estate or a hatchback. The crossover mixes SUV design cues Qashqai – and you’d be right. The Nissan features a host of innovasuch as tall interior packaging, tive CONS safety features which helped it FACTS lofty seating, high centre ofPROS gravity ‘N’ confidently pass all Euro NCAP's and elevated ground-clearance speed: 115 mph √ the maximum fivetestsSafety to record with car-like handling and good Economy √ star rating. fuel economy. mph: 10.9 secs
bined mpg: 50.4
Driving position √ Kit √
Engineered to offer the best possible levels of protection for children, the fresh Qashqai particularly shone in the Child Occupant tests. Based on readings from the dummies used in tests, the Qashqai scored maximum points for its protection of an 18-month old infant. On that basis alone, I’m sold on the car – but then I do have an 18 month old and two other small children to take to school. I can definitely see the appeal – and so, it seems, do other parents. Yep, buy this car and your offspring will be safe from harm – even if it means you lose all individuality when you merge into the vast sea of other Nissan Qashqais parked outside the school gates.
FAST FACTS Max speed: 115 mph 0-62 mph: 10.9 secs Combined mpg: 50.4 Engine: 1197cc 4 cylinder 16 valve petrpl turbo Max. power (bhp): 123 at 4500 rpm Max. torque (lb/ft): 140 at 2000 rpm CO2: 129 g/km Price: £23,800 on the road PROS & CONS Safety √ Economy √ Driving position √ Kit √ Space √ Individuality X
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In The Garden
rd 19th - 23 5 May 201
Chelsea Flower Show The Chelsea Flower Show is to gardening what the Paris catwalks are to fashion. Paris fashions may seem outlandish, but they push certain trends, which in a watered-down version end up in high-street shops. Likewise, though many of Chelsea’s show gardens are fantasy pieces which demonstrate outrageous ideas, the horticultural trends on display will find their way into our own more modest plots. For example; did you know that bonsai specimens and topiary gardens were introduced at Chelsea in 1913? Rock gardens were introduced in the 1940’s and decking in the eighties. All of these can now be bought in garden centres up and down the land. In 2006 James Dyson even produced a water feature in which the water ran uphill. Actually I’m still waiting for my garden centre to stock one of those! Maybe one day... Chelsea isn’t just about high fashion though; it reflects environmental trends too. In recent years there have been hosepipe bans in the great Pavillion and many of the gardens have showcased drought-tolerant planting schemes. Chelsea draws over 150 000 visitors each year. For the past ten years it’s been held over
five days instead of four, such is its popularity. The sheer quantity and varieties of plants on display to the general public is breathtaking. Chelsea really is window-shopping at its finest. It’s like walking through a real-life version of the best garden design catalogue in the world. And if you visit on the last day you don’t have to restrict yourself to window shopping. At 4pm precisely a bell rings and the great Chelsea sell-off begins. The poor designers, after all their hard work, begin the mammoth task of dismantling their creations. The good news is that the public can buy them. It’s perfectly possible to end up owning a little piece of a prize winning garden. So what should you choose? If it were me I’d want something special; a reminder of my visit. I’d go for a species which I know would grow in my garden, but an unusual variety, not available in my local garden centre. In my case it would probably be an unusual lavender or fuchsia. Choose carefully and you could have a little piece of Chelsea gold adorning your plot for many years to come.
Walkers needed to celebrate 25 Years - Do you like walking? Are you in need of a little adventure? Come and join PACE on 4th July for a 25mile walk across the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Bring your friends for a weekend away and help us celebrate 25 years of PACE. Included in your sign up - bacon butties, packed lunch en route and celebratory meal with glass of wine when finished, also full guided support and PACE staff walking with you. Places are filling up fast so enquire about your place today. Join us on Saturday 4 July, for more information contact Victoria.martin@thepacecentre.org 01296 616974 www.thepacecentre.org
At the Waterside Theatre Its fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool" swing into AYLESBURY – Waterside Theatre on Saturday 11th April with a sensational show featuring the greatest music of the 20th century. Wonderful memories of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Junior in a fabulous production that continues to be successful all over the world. The BBC summed up this show in just one word - MAGNIFICENT! Tickets are available from:Waterside Theatre, Exchange Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1UG Box Office No’s: 0844 871 7607 and 0207 091 8824 To see, hear more about the Rat Pack, visit their website at www.ratpack.biz
It’s the Law
Your home upon a Relationship breakdown but if there are children the nonresident parent has the right to know where their child will be living. However, if there are other issues, such as domestic violence or harassment then this may alter the position.
The family home is often the most valuable asset of a relationship and can be the cause of much concern. Irrespective of the name in which the property is registered, if you are married, the home, is a matrimonial asset. If you are vacating the property, it does not mean that you are losing any financial rights and strictly speaking, you would both own the property in equal shares, unless a prior agreement has been reached to the contrary. If you are not married, your financial interest in the property will depend upon the legal ownership of the home. If you are not a legal owner, in order for your to have a financial interest in the property, you will need to prove that there is a “Trust” in place, which can be constructed if you have paid money into property, or alternatively, where the way in which you conducted your relationship lead you to believe you had an interest in it. In either case, you are not obliged to notify your ex-partner of your new whereabouts,
If you are the person remaining in the property, you should not change the locks, especially if the other party is a joint legal owner. You do however have the right to enjoy sole occupation of the property, which means that the other party cannot frequent the same without your prior consent. You must however allow the other party access to the property in order to collect their belongings, or alternatively arrange a convenient time and location for their collection. Osborne Morris & Morgan will be running a Free Family Law Walk-In clinic, offering 15 minute free consultations on the last Thursday of each month, starting on Thursday 30th April 2015, at their offices in Leighton Buzzard, 10 am – 12 pm. Sheena Shah Osborne Morris & Morgan Sheena.shah@ommlaw.co.uk 01525 378177
6 or 13 mile ladies sponsored walk in aid of
11 For more information or to register, please visit
www.gemstonewalk.co.uk
#gemstonemidnightwalk
@fnhospice
supported by
www.fnhospice.org.uk
01296 429975 This is a charity event raising funds for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, Registered Charity Number: 1119499
A Good Read
For You
The Poison Tree By Erin Kelly
Finding your way in the world after leaving school can be daunting, and for Karen this is no different. A language student at a college in London she has a chance encounter with Biba, an exotic and bohemian student, and Karen’s life will never be the same again. Biba lives with her brother Rex in a crumbling gothic style townhouse in London, with a lifestyle that could not be further from the suburban humdrum that Karen grew up in. She is drawn to these two siblings and so begins a summer of freedom, cheap wine, experimental drugs and sexual adventures. The lure of Biba’s personality is tremendous and Karen clearly aspires to be like her. Then, one day, their idyllic summer comes crashing to a halt. Karen learns the truth of Biba and Rex’s family life and an unexpected visitor leads to tragedy. A more mature Karen looks back on the events of that summer ten years later as she comes to terms with her role in everything. As a reader, you know from the start that something is going to happen. Like a car crash in slow motion you can see it coming as Karen absorbs more and more of Biba’s exotic nature. Yet, when the author brings things to a climax you are thrown, dazed and shocked, along with Karen, in a debut novel that will stay with you long after you close it for the final time.
For The Kids The Maze Runner By James Dashner Post-apocalyptic and dystopian literature seems to be all the rage in the Young Adult fiction market these days. Hot on the heels of the successful Hunger Games and Divergent trilogies comes The Maze Runner. Initially published in 2009 it came to prominence with the release of the film adaptation in 2014. Thomas is a teenager who awakes to find himself in a box in a place called the Glade. He has no memory of who he is or how he came to be here, but he is thrown into this new community, and as a reader so are you. Before long you become familiar with the terminology used by the boys and you feel as if you are a Glader along with them. As Thomas adjusts to his new home he learns about the Maze which surrounds the Glade. Each day the walls open and a select group of runners spend daylight hours exploring and mapping it. It is a race against the clock because at sunset the Grievers – giant robotic creatures – enter the Maze and they are deadly. The walls close to protect the community and overnight the structure of the Maze changers, leaving the runners to start again in the morning. The big mystery is why. Why are Thomas and the other boys there and why do the Grievers come out to get them? Why do the walls in the Maze change and will the runners ever solve it. However, more importantly why has a girl been sent to the Glade and why has all communication with the outside world suddenly stopped?
k s g g E r e t s a E ry Of
The Histo
There are Easter Egg trails at Whipsnade, Ashridge & Waddesdon Manor visit www.eastereggtrail.com and enter your postcode for details
E
aster without chocolate eggs would be like Christmas without presents. Simply unthinkable! And yet the tradition of giving chocolate at Easter is relatively recent, dating back 120 years or so to the late nineteenth century. Easter is a Christian festival that commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Occurring in Spring, which is regarded as a time of renewal and birth by many faiths and cultures, the egg has been used as a symbol of birth and fertility since well before Christianity. Originally painted bright colours to celebrate the sunlight of spring, decorating and colouring eggs became popular during the Middle Ages, when they were dyed red to symbolise the blood of Christ. Forbidden as a food during Lent, eggs were hard-boiled, decorated and then given to children at Easter as good luck symbols. In the eighteenth century, pasteboard or papier mache eggs with small gifts inside became popular and by the nineteenth century these had evolved into cardboard eggs covered in silk, lace or velvet and fastened with ribbon. Faberge produced its first egg in 1883, and elaborate eggs made from silver and gold, ivory and porcelain - some inlaid with jewels - followed. The first chocolate eggs were made in France and Germany in the early nineteenth century, not long after the first eating chocolate was invented (prior
to this chocolate was enjoyed as a drink). But the chocolate couldn’t be moulded and early eggs were solid. Chocolate eggs didn’t truly gain in popularity until Cadbury entered the market in 1875. Their early eggs were made from dark chocolate with a plain, smooth surface. Filled with dragees (small, hard sweets), they were decorated with chocolate piping and marzipan flowers. The range gradually increased until in 1893 Cadbury was producing 19 different lines, but it wasn’t until 1905 when the company introduced Cadbury Dairy Milk that the sales of Easter eggs really received a boost. All-chocolate eggs did not immediately replace the novelty eggs of the Victorian era, however, and Cadbury continued to produce a fancy cardboard egg filled with chocolates until the early 1930s. The first crème eggs appeared in 1923 as a forerunner to the Cadbury Creme Egg, launched in 1971. An instant hit, it has now become Cadbury’s most popular egg, with over 500 million being made every year, though shell eggs still form the largest sector of the Easter egg market. So, we have Cadbury to thank for our modern day Easter egg, and in particular their invention of Dairy Milk. How ironic, then, that this year they should recently decide to replace the nation’s favourite chocolate on their most popular egg with an alternative! Will Easter ever be the same again?
Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles
3 2 4 3
2 9 7 8 2 9 3
Sudoku 数独 1 6
7
9 2 6
8 4
3
6
WIDES
5 6
7 PAPER
Each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9 just once. This can be done by applying logic -you don’t have to guess!
Crossword
Across
Down
1. Prejudice based on ethnicity (6) 5. Erotic fixation (6) 8. Hope, desire (4) 9. Addictive drug (8) 10. Sacred songs or hymns (6) 11. Marrying twice without divorce (crime) (6) 12. Dull heavy noise (4) 14. Sick (3) 15. Female (4) 16. Horror-struck (6) 18. Place of Christian worship (6) 20. Nazi symbol (8) 22. Military force (4) 23. Iconic Australian city (6) 24. Twinging, hurting (6)
2. First sign of the Zodiac (5) 3. Breathed in (7) 4. Short item of ladies’ clothing (4,5) 5. A long way away (3) 6. Strip of leather, shoe (5) 7. Sparkle, glitter (7) 11. Warm headwear, ski-mask (9) 13. Main road, carriageway (7) 15. Hungarian soup or stew (7) 17. Set-fire with criminal intent (5) 19. Pungent spice (5) 21. Evergreen climbing plant (3)
Looking Up!
In Beds & Bucks
TheNight Sky April and May 2015 April Shooting Star Bonanza:
April sees the return of the Lyrids Meteor Shower across Bedfordshire. Peak meteor activity occurs on the night of 22 April – 23 April when skywatchers will be able to catch a hundred or more shooting stars streaking across the sky from the east / southeast between 10pm to 3am the following morning.
Take a Journey to the Edge of the Galaxy:
Spring is a great time to explore the outer reaches of our galaxy. Out here, in the galaxy’s halo, lurk ancient spherical clumps of stars known as globular clusters. Each cluster contains hundreds of thousands of stars that are almost
By Seb Jay
as old as the universe itself. The Hercules Globular Cluster, located in the evening sky towards the east not far from the bright star Vega, can be seen with binoculars on a moonless night from the Chilterns.
Find Four Planets in One Evening:
The first two weeks in May this year are a great opportunity to see four planets with the naked eye. Mercury is first up. Look low down to your west sixty-minutes after sunset for a shimmering orange dot of light in the evening twilight. Higher up towards the west is dazzling Venus – the brightest star-like object in the night sky. Up and to the left of Venus is a slightly less bright Jupiter, while low down to the south-east horizon after dark you’ll find pale yellow Saturn.
seb@darkskytelescopehire.co.uk Dark Sky Telescope Hire www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk Image: Hercules Globular Cluster by Dave Eagle
WIN a pair of tickets to see The Sound of Music! One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to the stage in a magnificent new production to enchant and enthral the young and the young at heart. Based on Baroness Maria von Trapp's 1949 autobiography, this wonderfully lavish new staging of The Sound of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of WWII. The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including 'Edelweiss', 'My Favorite Things',
'Do-Re-Mi', 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', and of course, the title song - 'The Sound of Music'. This new production of the classic stage musical coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the film version - the best loved and most successful movie musical in history.
Sound of Music is playing at the Milton Keynes Theatre - 25 May – 6 June 2015
See www.kenwright.com for more information on tour dates and venues.
Terms and condition apply. Prize is valid 25 May 2015 only. Prize is as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged. No cash alternative will be offered. All prizes are subject to availability.
To win two tickets select the correct answer from the list below and email your answer to andrena@thevinemagazine.com put "sound of music" as the subject line. Entries close on 30th April. One winner will be selected at random from the correct answers.
Which small white flower is made famous by a song in "The Sound of Music” a) Edelweiss b) Snowdrop c) Crocus
Out and About in
COMMUNITY
BEDS & BUCKS On Saturday 18th April at 7.30pm AYLESBURY FESTIVAL CHOIR Will be performing Haydn’s ‘Creation’ At St Mary’s Church, Aylesbury For more information and to obtain tickets (£12) visit our website www. aylesburyfestivalchoir.net or if you prefer, buy your tickets at the door 26th April 11am to 2pm Market Square, Aylesbury
ST GEORGE’S FUN DAY AND SCOUT PARADE A free family fun day in celebration of England’s patron saint St George. All of the entertainment, games, craft and activities are free and themed around the 3C’s associated with St George - Courage, Chivalry and Charity. Pupils and teachers from Broughton Infant School create a fantastic dancing dragon to battle with the larger than life St George. Towersey Morris dancers, will be performing at 12:25pm and 1:40pm. All
of this plus fire breathing, arts, crafts, games and activities totally free of charge. At 3:15pm the annual scout parade, led by The Amersham Marching Band, St George and the school dragon with over 200 Scouts, marching from Market Square to St Mary’s Church, for the annual affirmation service. They will return at 4pm for the Scouts to be formally dismissed by the District Commissioner. Sunday3rd, and Monday 4th May Spring Steam Gala & Model Railway Exhibition at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre (Including Rewley Road layout) Industrial Steam Gala including up to 7 locos in steam, double heading, freight trains, Driver for a Tenner and Brake Van Rides. details or telephone 01296 655720 (weekdays 9.30 4.30). Recorded information on 01296 655450 Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP22 4BY 10th May 11am to 2-pm Aston Clinton Village Market Don’t miss a wonderful
opportunity to sample and take home a huge selection of farmers’ market produce. There will be beautiful gift and craft stalls selling handmade jewellery, cards and vintage furniture. Local businesses and interest groups will be there, Fun4Kidz and the Mix96 Mega slide, games crafts and more for the Children. Local caterers, BBQ, Beer & Pimms Tent, Cafe. Come for Lunch. Take home Dinner. Aston Clinton School Twitchell Lane Aston Clinton HP22 5JJ info@acvillagemarket.co.uk 17th May Chiltern Hills Vintage Rally see page 12 for full details The 7th Mentmore Arts Festival will be held from Saturday 23rd May 2015 to Monday 25th May 2015.The main fund raising for 2015 is to support Dementia care in the local community. The funds will be attached to supporting the work done in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire which includes the Dementia Cafe’s in Aylesbury and Buckingham
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Can she really take half of my pension?
I’ve supported him for 30 years! Everything’s in his name, can he really take it all?
For advice on separation, divorce and pre-nuptial agreements
Call us now and speak to one of our Family Law experts.
Call: 01525 378177 info@ommlaw.co.uk www.ommlaw.co.uk
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