Vale Life Aug-Sept 2017 Web Edition by Charlie Trott

Vale Life FREE MAGAZINE

Your free magazine for Aylesbury, Thame and the surrounding area

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Aug/Sept 2017

Cover image: Ex Bellowhead vocalist Jon Boden performs at Towersey Festival on Friday, August 25th. See Page 63

Inside:

Doing a great job?

Enter the 5 Star Business awards

Join the outsiders

Keeping fit is al fresco fun

See our website at: www.vale-life.co.uk

Showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 150th year

Big celebration for Bucks County Show Plus our columnists: Katy, Naomi, Polly, Amanda, Janice, Cathy, Paul, Tracy, Sandra, Shaun, Nigel, Rob, Alan and much, much more...

Free local listings for events and businesses

w A Meal for two at Canaletto, Kingswood w w Rothschilds in tring Book w A Signed John Otway Montserrat CD w

Exceptional Elderly Care Exceptional Elderly Care Exceptional Elderly Care Exceptional Elderly Care THE HAMBLEDON WING 12 THE NEWHAMBLEDON LUXURY BEDROOMS WING THE HAMBLEDON WING OPENING SEPTEMBER 2017 THE HAMBLEDON WING THE HAMBLEDON WING 12 NEW LUXURY BEDROOMS 12 THE NEWHAMBLEDON LUXURY BEDROOMS WING 12 NEW BEDROOMS 12OPENING NEW LUXURY LUXURY BEDROOMS SEPTEMBER 2017 OPENING SEPTEMBER 2017 12OPENING NEW LUXURY BEDROOMS SEPTEMBER OPENING SEPTEMBER 2017 2017 OPENING SEPTEMBER 2017

Setting new standards for premium care in Buckinghamshire. Peverel Court Care are delighted to announce the launch of the new Hambledon Wing at Bartlett’s Residential Care Home. Re-envisaged Setting new standards for premium care Peverel Court Care are to Setting newground standards forcomfort, premium care in in Buckinghamshire. Buckinghamshire. Peverel Court Care materials. are delighted delighted from the up for flexibility and safety, finished with high quality Keyto Setting new standards for premium care in Buckinghamshire. Peverel Court Care are delighted to announce the launch of the new Hambledon Wing at Bartlett’s Residential Care Home. Re-envisaged Setting new standards for premium care in Buckinghamshire. Peverel Court Care are delighted to announce the launch of the new welcoming Hambledon Wing atlibrary, Bartlett’s Residential Care Home. Re-envisaged features include a bright and atrium, home cinema and extensive dementia announce the launchupof offor the new Hambledon Hambledon Wing at Bartlett’s Bartlett’s Residential Care Home. Re-envisaged Setting new standards forcomfort, premium care in Buckinghamshire. Peverel Court Care are delighted to from the ground flexibility and safety, finished with high quality materials. Key announce the launch the new Wing at Residential Care Home. Re-envisaged from the ground up for comfort, flexibility and finished withtranquil high quality materials. Key friendly landscaped grounds, setWing oversafety, 18 acres of private parkland. from the ground up for comfort, flexibility and safety, finished with high quality materials. Key announce the launch of the new Hambledon at Bartlett’s Residential Care Home. Re-envisaged features bright and atrium, library, home cinema and extensive dementia from theinclude groundaaup for comfort, flexibility and safety, finished high quality materials. Key features include bright and welcoming welcoming atrium, library, home with cinema and extensive dementia features include a bright and welcoming atrium, library, home cinema and extensive dementia from the ground up for comfort, flexibility and safety, finished with high quality materials. Key friendly grounds, set over 18 acres of private tranquil parkland. features include a landscaped bright and welcoming atrium, library, cinema and extensive dementia For more information and to register your new Hambledon Wing email friendly landscaped grounds, set overinterest 18 acresinhome ofthe private tranquil parkland. friendly grounds, over acres of private tranquil parkland. dementia features include bright and welcoming atrium, library, home cinema and extensive friendlya landscaped landscaped grounds, set set over 18 18 acres private info@bartlettscare.co.uk or call of 01296 747tranquil 000. parkland. For more information and to register your interest in the new Hambledon Wing friendly landscaped setyour overinterest 18 acresinofthe private tranquil parkland. For more information andgrounds, to register new Hambledon Wing email email For more information and to register your interest in the new Hambledon Wing info@bartlettscare.co.uk or call 747 000. For more information and to register your interest in01296 the new Hambledon Wing email email info@bartlettscare.co.uk or call 01296 747 000. PEVERELCOURTCARE.CO.UK info@bartlettscare.co.uk or call 01296 747 000. For more information and to register your interest in the new Hambledon Wing email info@bartlettscare.co.uk or call 01296 747 000. info@bartlettscare.co.uk or call 01296 747 000. PEVERELCOURTCARE.CO.UK

PEVERELCOURTCARE.CO.UK PEVERELCOURTCARE.CO.UK PEVERELCOURTCARE.CO.UK PEVERELCOURTCARE.CO.UK

The Old The Old Thatched Inn Thatched Inn Gastro Pub

Gastro Pub TheMainOld Street, Adstock, Buckinghamshire, MK18 2JN hatched Inn

Gastro Pub Main Street Adstock Buckinghamshire MK18 2JN We offer a unique blend high quality dining, hosted in a relaxed Tel of 01296 712584 and comfortable environment, serving locally sourced food

www.theoldthatchedinn.co.uk Open seven

Main Street Adstock Buckinghamshire MK18 2JN

days

Open seven days Lunch from 12 noon - 2.30pm Dinner from 6pm - 9.30pm Serving all day Sunday from 12 noon - 9pm Telephone: 01296 712584 2

Vale Life : Nov/Dec 2014

www.theoldthatchedinn.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

A Ridgeway Kitchen comes with one important extra feature — peace of mind

Bespoke, fitted or just supplied, our stunning range of German and English kitchens come with total peace of mind. Ridgeway will work with you throughout your project — whether small or large. It’s all done from surveying, designing, delivering and fitting your dream kitchen and using our own in house teams of experts. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the end result. Add to that free survey and design, it all adds up to a very attractive deal indeed. For more information on our range of over 500 kitchen options, you will be very welcome to drop into our showroom off the M40 near Thame in Oxfordshire. Or visit our website (www.ridgewaykitchens.co.uk) or call us on 01844 279900

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Welcome to Coco Tamarind Fine Indian restaurant & takeaway at Askett, Princes Risborough Relax, unwind and enjoy our friendly attentive service and most delicious Indian cuisine

Coco Tamarind serves the finest modern and traditional Indian cuisine, in stylish, comfortable surroundings. The relaxed ambience and efficient service, plus our well stocked bar, will ensure your time with us is a most enjoyable experience, whatever the occasion. 10% discount on collected takeaways 20% discount if ordered online via our website & collected (min order £20)! l Free home delivery within 5 mile radius (min order £15) l Be a Coco Tamarind Member for discounts and special offers l Please book ahead - we are busy all week! l

Don’t miss our fabulous Abba tribute evening on Wednesday, October 4th - book quickly!

Order your takeaway or reserve a table online at www.cocotamarindHP27.co.uk or call: 01844 343111 / 01844 346100 Coco Tamarind, Aylesbury Road, Askett, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 9LY

01296 622975 07711750917

F u n e r a l D i r e c to r s 21 -23 High Street, Wendover HP22 6DU

bradleyandjones.co.uk time@bradleyandjones.co.uk Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Crusader Holidays 2018

www.crusader-holidays.co.uk

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FREE JOININGLOCAL POINTS IN THE SOUT H EAST & HOM E COUN TIES

We’re excited about our 2018 Fri 31stholidays March 2017 and some are already on sale!

Sun 30th October 2016 Fawlty at thethe time Andre Rieuhave LiveaInfavourite France and want to ensure seats near If you theTowers front, now’s to book. £385 £125 The King of Waltz Returns! André 2 Days RivieraOrchard & LemonHotel Festival Early Breaks On Sale Now! 4 Days Italian 4-Star

Rieu is back in France with a brand new show! André Rieu will give you Chocolates Bruges what you’ve come & to Lace expect–from his Central Academie Hotel performances: the maestro conducting with breakfast his 60-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra Lace Demo & Chocostory Feb 9th - 4 Days: £299 and playing his world-famous Stradivarius violin to create a colourful Romantic Break in concert full of surprises. TheVianden repertoire Grand Hotel with breakfast ranges from romantic, emotional& dinner Includes a wine tasting & Luxembourg City ballads to the most gorgeous and Feb 9th - 4 days: £259 celebrated waltzes. Experience the magic of André Rieu at Coach Arosa aSnow festive and memorable evening and withsee the Chur–Arosa come why André Rieu is one of the Railpopular Journey included. most live acts in the world! Half Board in resort & much more Feb 16th & Mar 9th 8 days: £559 Chur-Arosa Railway

Single supplementBased extra

Single room supp.£15 in Diano Marina with guide Lets take a trip back in time - we Insurance £23 for 2 days and seated tickets for the festival all loved Fawlty Towers! Come Feb 16th – 8 days: £579 and join in the fun as John Cleese impersonator, Edmond Wells, Bavarian Winter the only 6’ 7’’ Basil Fawlty look Adventure – and sound alike, walks the walk Huskies, Torch-lit Walk & and talks the talk! Typically the Crystal Fawlty Towers theme night will Adventure all start with meeting and included. greeting the guests at reception.Feb Basil16th & Mar 9th will announce dinner as8Manuel days: £639 leads guests to dinner in time honoured fashion. Sybil is her Amsterdam Weekend usual self, Manuel will feature BB in Amstelveen Mar 16th – 4 days: £259 as a waste of space, whilst Basil will be giving the sort of service Crusader one wouldFavourite! expect from a top class Torquay all without Austrian Lakes &hotelier, The Sound of Music mentioning the war! Room, February 10, 2017 – 4 days dinner & breakfast plus live Continental Tours The Feast of Saint Valentine Easter evolved into an occasion in which lovers used entertainment from ‘the staff’. toMarch express their affection for each other by presenting flowers, offering 30th – 4 days This 2 day tour is from restricted joining points in confectionery and sending Roman Remagen & Ahrgreeting Valley: cards. £339 These days it is also the perfect Bucks, Beds, Oxon and some Hertfordshire points. opportunity to take your loved one away for a short romantic break. Breathtaking Bruges: £349 To ensure an unforgettable and enjoyable Valentine’s, we’ve come up with Dutch Bulbfields: £359 ideas that should help you plan your weekend. Your weekend includes a Disneyland Paris: £299 special gift for the ladies so look for the Valentine. Luxembourg & Trier: £309 UK Easter breaks also available on our website Look at our new style 2017 brochure – out in Christmas 2017 September.

Valentine Weekends - Love is in the air!

All-New 2017 Brochure

Seats are available on the following Christmas Romantic Wokefieldholidays: Park, Berkshire with Snowdrop Walk (HB)

Warner – Gunton Hall, Suffolk - Top Tribute Party: Take That & Bruno Mars (HB) Austrian Lakes – Costa Mill Rythe–- Hayling Island – Moonlight & Roses (HB) Brava Switzerland – Amsterdam Bruges –(BB) Eastbourne

– – York – Luxembourg Roman Trier&(HB) Lincoln – &Torquay Wales Romantic (BB) Bristol –Paris Folkestone

Please Bruges ask for(BB) details, Medieval

Bruges

or see our website

St Wolfgang

Some of our holidays 2 overnight 6 nights are hotels already+on our in The Tirolerhof, St Georgen £259 Includes website visits to and Salzkammergut, Mondsee, St Gilgen & don’t £219 St Wolfgang, Salzburg & Sound of Music, Hallstatt and forget the early £279 Berchtesgaden. This tour is packed full of fun and lots of booking discount £279 extras. offer! Departures: May 25th, June 8th, July 6th, August 3rd £259 and Sept 14th - 9 days: from £629 £289 Visit www.crusader-holidays.co.uk to book now £275

For more information contact our reservations department on 01296 336666 Holidays: www.crusader-holidays.co.uk

Day Trips: www.mottsholidays.co.uk

4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2LD Crusader Holiday Shop, 4 Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 1BH Crusader Holidays, 13 Crusader Business Park, Stephenson Road West, Clacton, Essex, CO15 4HP www.facebook.com/mottstravel

Please see our current brochure for booking conditions and trading charter.

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Our care homes are amazing places, attracting all kinds of colourful characters who just want to enjoy life – while feeling happy, supported and safe. We’ve been providing care and reassurance for over 25 years, and nothing compares to the sense of pride we feel in being trusted by families all over the UK. …Ray – otherwise known as the ‘King’ of Chacombe Park!

Whether you need urgent care or just some help and advice, our friendly teams are here when you need us. Chacombe Park • Tel: 01295 641 711

Juniper House • Tel: 01280 428 134

Banbury Road, Chacombe, Banbury, OX17 2JL

Candleford Close, Brackley, NN13 6JZ

Middletown Grange • Tel: 01993 627 911

Oxford Beaumont • Tel: 01865 566 171

Southerndown • Tel: 01608 433 867

Visit www.barchester.com for more information about your local Barchester care home.

Middletown, Hailey near Witney, OX29 9UB

Worcester Road, Chipping Norton, OX7 5YF

Bayworth Lane, Boars Hill, OX1 5DF

Nursing Care • Residential Care • Dementia Care • Respite Breaks

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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For the opportunity to look around Chilton House where you can meet our physios and nurses, join for afternoon tea or just relax with the wonderful views.

Call us today on 01844 265 200 and book a visit to discover all that Chilton House has to offer.

Aylesbury, CChilton, hilton, a y l e s B u r y , Buckinghamshire, B u C k i n g h a m s h i r e hp18 h p 1 1 9lr 9l r 0 1 8 4 4 2265200 6 5 2 0 0 | | wwww.chiltonhouse.co.uk ww.Chitonhouse.Co.uk 01844 8

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Great rates Amazing results To advertise in Vale Life Magazine Call Charlie on 07702 006218

Spread the word across The Vale: see: www.vale-life.co.uk for details

Late Summer accessories

Sofa so good

Coach trip collectables

An AGA for you

Walk the walk

Need an assistant?

Forcing dandelions

Do I stay or do I go?

Chasing the sun

Smart living

Bally good show

Let’s go for a picnic

Just having a blast!

A little night gardening

Tone up at the barre

Pawfect companions

Let’s all get a move on

Take your partners

Join the outsiders

Join the festivities

Colours fly for Hospice

Show’s 150th year!

Sing for your health

The only way is up!

Doing a great job?

Cars in the Claydons

13 14 16 18 20 21 22 24 26 27 32

Katy’s tips for finishing touches

Antique hunters head for France How to sign up for the MS Mile More quirky stories from the Antiques Centre Tips for tanning safely The colour craze that’s sweeping the nation Fun on the run for Rennie Grove How to develop a dancer’s body New initiative gets Bucks moving Going outdoors for some fresh air fitness Join the FN Hospice Colour Rush Joining a choir could do you good The 5 Star Awards await your entry

Polly’s guide to the perfect sofa AGA range has something for everyone Virtual assistants are all the rage Could you live on a building site?! Top tech for your home

Charlotte’s packing her hamper Does your garden dance in the moonlight? Taking your pet away this Summer? Pair up for Autumn at the Waterside It’s nearly time for Towersey! Big celebration for County Show Have a swinging time in Wendover Woods Vintage vehicles and classic cars

Town loses popular figure

was sad to hear recently that popular Thame butcher, Chris Wren had died, on June 28th, following an 11 year battle with cancer. Anyone who shopped at Wren’s of Thame (previously Clay’s) in the town’s Buttermarket, would I’m sure know Chris and have enjoyed his cheery welcome and friendly chat. He was a genuinely lovely character and was officially recognised as such only last year, at the Thame Town Awards, when he was awarded the ‘Service with a Smile’ award (voted for by the people of the town)

ongratulations to the following Jun/Jul edition competition winners! Hopefully your prizes will have arrived by now, please let us know

for his good-natured service and helpfulness. Chris grew up in Botley and had a Saturday job working for a master butchers, on Oxford’s Little Clarendon Street. He took an apprenticeship with Dewhurst Butchers and came to Thame to open up a new branch for the firm in 1972, where Superdrug Chris Wren is now, eventually becoming an Assistant Area Manager. By the 90s the supermarkets were taking their toll on specialist

if not. Commiserations to those who weren’t so lucky - read on though for more competitions inside this edition, including the chance to win: A meal for two at

food stores and in 1994, Dewhurst decided to sell their Thame premises and lay off the staff. Chris had been thinking of starting his own butchers, but Clays approached him to run a new shop in Thame for them. Fellow butcher Derek and Chris’s son Andrew, joined him in the venture and they ran it like a family business, for some 20 years, until 2012, when the opportunity came to buy the business from Clays and the family name ‘Wren’ went

Canaletto, Kingswood; Two tickets for Ubiquitous dinner theatre and a Signed John Otway CD. Last issue’s prizewinners were: A meal for two at The

Old Thatched Inn, Adstock: Vikkie Ridley, Padbury Tickets for Ubiquitous Theatre: Claire Hopkins, Ford Tickets for Towersey Festival: Mrs A. Mack,

over the door - a proud moment indeed. Chris lived in Brill with his wife Marie and have four boys and a daughter, Annette. Chris worked with his eldest son Andrew, for some 24 years and once told me, in that time they’d never had a cross word - I could quite believe it too. Marie and Annette are also involved in the business. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Chris’s family and colleagues. He was one of a kind and will be dearly missed by all.

Charlie

Editor, Vale Life Magazine

Grendon Underwood Tickets for Swanbourne Festival: Kerrie West, Aylesbury A Minecraft mini backpack: Ann Smith, Thame

Vale Life Magazine is designed and published by Vale Life Magazine, 23 Glenham Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3WD Telephone: 01844 261579 Mobile: 07702 006218 Website: www.vale-life.co.uk Email: editor@vale-life.co.uk Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of Vale Life. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies, omissions or late changes. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publishers. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company www.magprint.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

with Katy Dyer

Personal stylist and fashion expert Katy scours our local boutiques and passes on tips and tricks for looking your best, plus the latest news on the high street trends

Late Summer accessories

ate summer can be tricky style wise, and when I’m finding it a little difficult to balance my style with what the weather or the day holds I always, always ring the changes with accessories. It’s often a question of practicality as well as style. With our climate here in the Vale, a simple scarf can be a good way to cover up from the blazing sun or stay warm on a chiller summer day.

Scarves in profusion Scarves are a summer essential. If you are someone who has a drawerful and not sure what to do with them, make YouTube your first point of call and discover endless ways to accessorise with different looks - you will find easy ways to style scarves into summer tops, bags and belts, transforming your look. Don’t believe me? Try it and let me know what you find! Always thought scarves are not quite you? My

White Hart Studio, Haddenham Scarves: onehundredstars £28 10

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Baban, Thame Hat and beach bag/shopper £15 each

Accessorize: Augusta Round Sunglasses £12

Accessorize Open Moon Hair Clip £2

Accessorize Mixed Flower Tie Up Bando £10 Accessorize Olivia Ombre Cateye Sunglasses £12 Baban, Thame Necklace £16

recommendation is to find one that is both large and lightweight as this is the most versatile. An easy way to add a little colour by choosing designs that have two, three or more colours creating different effects with different outfits. Just experiment!

Bejewelled If your style is more classic, then understated quality is going to be what you love in your jewellery. Choose precious metals perhaps with unusual stones or settings to reflect your personality. If you prefer a more bohemian or romantic summer look, go for tasselled bracelets and tags, colour and ribbon in profusion. If jewellery is not really your thing, reconsider - choosing pieces with natural materials such as wood, stone and even cotton beading. If it’s drama all the way as your preferred style, go to town with bright colour and striking designs. Jewellery really can make a simple outfit “wow” and reflect your style statement and personality, without shelling out. Feature Footwear Summer footwear can really make or break a look. My go-to would be a bit of summer sparkle, even with

the most casual styles. Sandals, flip flops or on-trend sneakers work well with skirts, shorts and light trousers, so time taken to look for styles that are comfortable too will be well spent. Summer footwear for men can sometimes present challenges – the difference now is that there are a range of sock solutions that means that an age-old dilemma of socks-or-not can be easily solved. No-show socks are perfect for deck shoes and loafers plus trainers too. Stay Shady If you want to get ahead sunglasses are your new best friend! It is worth considering your needs before splashing out on a designer look (and if you like to ring the changes, then perhaps two or three inexpensive fashion pairs in different colours would be your choice). Sporty and active - well you’ll need to be sure that your shades are a good fit and perhaps go for a wraparound style to avoid any glare. Fashionistas will prefer the latest styles, perhaps oversized with a touch of sparkle. If you are more

creative, brightly coloured retro designs may be more your thing and if understated chic sounds more you then it will be contemporary yet classic styles that will be your go-to look.

Dorothy Perkins Fuchsia Trousers & Sheer Cold Shoulder Blouse

Bags of Style Don’t underestimate the power of a great bag in getting the look you want. Summer usually means lighter, brighter colours but maybe more to store to keep your summer stash all in one handy place. Straw is great and usually less expensive, an easy way to update your look. Colourful weaves, patterns and again perhaps a bit of sparkle are the things to look Baban, Thame: Leather out for. Star clutch bags £30 And I know I talk about it all the (with shoulder strap) time… but your clutch bag is still the best investment you will make on the style front this year. Handy for popping out with the essentials and will vamp up a simple daytime look into something altogether more special. Sparkle & Shine Not just the reserve of schoolgirls, grown up hair accessories are on the up. Whether it’s a festival flower circle or (more!) sparkle with a diamante or two in your lovely locks, using hair accessories is another perfect way to show summer you are here (oh, and handy for keeping your hair out of your eyes too!).

White Hart Studio, Haddenham Baskets: Made in Provence from £26 Here’s a quick rundown of high summer hot trends: 1. Cold shoulder tops & dresses - floral? So much the better; 2. Athletic sportswear - oh-sowearable; 3. Fuchsia - it’s everywhere!

l Katy Dyer is a style coach and corporate image consultant and works with people of all ages, stages and backgrounds to help them present themselves at their very best. Because when you look good, you feel good. Find out more at www.katydyer.com or simply call 01844 872025.

Sew Claire Dancewear & Accessories l Wide range of Ballet, Tap, Dance, Cheer & Gymnastic Clothing, Bags & Accessories l All types of Dance Shoes l Approved Pointe Shoe Specialist l We can also Personalise your Dancewear & Accessories for that unique look or perfect present

Sew Claire

Find us on Facebook or pop in to: 25 Duck Farm Court, Station Way, Aylesbury, HP20 2SQ Tel: 01296 706418 Email: sewclaire@hotmail.co.uk Web: www.sewclaire.co.uk

Helen Grace Beautifully hand crafted stylish hats

Image Style Colour Corporate

Wardrobe Review Personal Shopping Group Consultations & Workshops

01844 872 025 katy@katydyer.com www.katydyer.com

and fascinators for all occasions To buy or hire Come and try on our wonderful hats and fascinators in the privacy of our studio in Shabbington Simply call for an appointment on 01844 201017

www.helengracehats.co.uk Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: Janice Issitt ‘Making the most of it’

Janice Issitt

Coach trip collectables

hen Ramon and Gary first met at their previous jobs working for a supermarket, they could never have imagined that their interest in antiques and collectables would blossom into such an interesting and varied new lifestyle of travel and meeting people. I first met the dynamic duo at the Milton Keynes Vintage Fair, they had just started out buying and selling on e-bay, auctions and small markets. Within no time they started to travel to Europe to directly source retro and collectables from their countries of origin, like the West German lava ceramics, French enamel kitchen wares and Catholic religious statues. Their jaunts across the channel were posted onto Facebook and we all followed the hilarious antics of broken down vans, shopping by torch light before dawn and unusual

Making the most of it

hotels, and before long everyone was commenting on how they would just love to go on a trip with them, asking to please take us all along next time. Happy to listen to their customers for requests of specific items, the Brocant boys decided to try and organise a coach trip for their friends and followers and a whole new endeavour was born. Trips are now a regular

occurrence, with the details having been refined, Ramon and Gary take a luxury coach leaving from Aylesbury and guide their small parties around the best street markets in Amiens and Liege. They always leave lots of spare seats on the coach so that everyone can buy large amounts of treasure to fill the storage and every spare corner of the big bus is taken up with furniture, collectables and

antiques. It’s also become a regular event for the tour party to buy small items which they auction on Facebook for charity and there is always some crazy items - one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. To find out how to join Ramon and Gary hop over to their website brocant-travel.com and also their Facebook page ‘brocantantique’ to book your seat on the brocant bus of fun! They always attract a good crowd of shoppers so you are guaranteed a good laugh and a bargain. It’s the most unusual alternative to a holiday I can imagine! l Read Janice’s blog at: http:// janiceissittlifestyle.blogspot.co.uk where she posts photo tutorials about things to make and lovely pictures of life in the Vale.

CELEBRATING

YEARS Farm Shop open Thur 11am-6.30pm & from Sept Sat 10am-2pm Fresh organic veg, slow-reared free-range meat & more... Events throughout the year & ‘pop-up’ Seasonal Suppers Visit: www.sandylanefarm.net for more information Find us in Tiddington (between Thame & Wheatley) OX9 2LA

Adams Travel Your Local Independent Travel Agent

11 Market Square, Aylesbury Tel. 01296 873017 aylesbury.adamstravel@gmail.com www.adamstravelaylesbury.co.uk

Hester Clarke Fine Jewellers

Independent Family Jewellers since 1892 Goldsmiths House 10-14 Cambridge Street Aylesbury Bucks HP20 1RS www.hesterclarke.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

01296 482963

Chilterns MS Centre provides services and treatments for hundreds of local people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Could you ‘Walk the MS Mile’ and help raise vital funds for this important local charity?

alk the MS Mile is the Chilterns MS Centre’s largest annual awareness and fundraising event. Since its inception in September 2015, it has raised £91,500 for the independent, Wendover-based charity and doubled the number of referrals received from people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Abi Parry, who lives and works in Aylesbury, will be taking part in Walk the MS Mile in Aylesbury, on Saturday, 23rd September, at 10am. Abi says “In 2016 I was diagnosed with MS, I had little information about MS at the time but I discovered the Chilterns MS Centre and it changed everything. Every step of the way I received help and advice from the most amazing team of physios, they make each visit for treatment fun and informative, just talking to other people who are going through the same experience is a great help”. The hundreds of people who have walked a mile for this local charity have helped it deliver over 2,600 hours of treatment to individuals like Abi who rely on the Centre. The Centre helps its members gain greater control over their MS, empowering them to lead happy and healthy lives and providing support for their carers.

Oxygen Therapy at the MS Centre Although it costs the charity £1m to meet the needs of people with MS in the local community, it receives less than 10% of its funding from the NHS, so fundraising events like Walk Abi Parry the MS Mile are vital. Such events also raise awareness of the Centre and its services, helping them to reach out to more people with MS. MS is an unpredictable, often disabling disease that causes a wide range of symptoms including: difficulties with mobility, balance, impaired vision, fatigue and bowel and bladder problems. Living with MS can be tough; although we don’t know the cause and we know no cure, we can treat many symptoms with physio, hydro, oxygen, complementary and occupational therapies. As well as therapies, the Centre also runs social, art and gardening groups, as it understands the need to support the social and emotional wellbeing of its members. This type of regular and long term treatment and care is not available on the NHS.

Gym session at Chilterns MS Centre Many people with MS are unable to take part in physical sponsored challenges. Walking a mile - or using a walking frame or a motorised wheelchair - is something many people can and are pleased to do. Walk the MS Mile is filling a gap in the sponsored event market. Join the Chilterns MS Centre and be part of the event’s success! If you’d like to Walk the MS Mile but can’t make Aylesbury, there are four other walks to choose from: Berkhamsted on 9th September, Beaconsfield and Wycombe on 16th September and Marlow on 23rd September. Register for any of these walks online, for just £5, at: www.walktheMSmile.org l The Chilterns MS Centre, Oakwood Close, Wendover, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5LX Tel: 01296 696133 Email: Fundraising@chilternsmscentre.org Web: www.chilternsmscentre.org Facebook: /ChilternsMSCentre Twitter: @ChilternsMS

Socialising in the MS Centre Atrium

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

13 3

Column: Nicky Gregory‘Curious World’

Forcing dandelions

Dandelion forcers

Nicky Gregory

Curious world

father! The origin of the word dandelion comes from Medieval Latin ‘dens leonis’, lion’s tooth, because of the jagged leaves. They are called ‘fairy clocks’ because their flowers open to greet the sun and close in the evening. It is the only flower which represents the three celestial bodies, the sun, the moon and the stars. In Victorian Flower Language the dandelion symbolises love, it was also known for wishes, welcome, faithfulness, divination, grief and bitterness. Used as a tool for divination – if you blow on a seed head

ANTIQUES AT… WENDOVER A Dateline ANTIQUES CENTRE Est. 1987 A QUALITY ANTIQUES CENTRE offering town and country antiques in a Tudor, brick and timber house, with wall paintings and inglenook fireplaces. Park in the Courtyard at the rear, where you will find Garden Antiques, a Tea Shop, the Barn Courtyard Shops and an Artist’s Studio. We are open every day from 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays.

19th Century “table top” mahogany chest of drawers with secret compartment, £235. The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 625335 Email: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Website: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk 14

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

is? Email your answers along with your name, address and contact telephone number to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Winner to be notified by email.

Dandelions were once a popular herb

the number of seeds left are the number of children you will have. There are many recipes from Pink Dandelion Wine and Dandelion Root Coffee to Dandelion Honey and Jelly. Young leaves can be cooked like spinach, used in salads, stir-fries or soup, the flowers are sweet and crunchy and the roots can be roasted. A good variation for a summer salad. Our Jun-Jul edition’s mystery object was a Boxwood shoe sizer. Can you guess what this one, right,

l Nicky Gregory is the owner of Antiques@Wendover, The Old Post Office, 25 High Street, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 6DU Tel: 01296 625335 Email: antiques@antiquesatwendover.co.uk Web: www.antiquesatwendover.co.uk

Mystery object

Pardon my English! A local dialect ‘Call My Bluff’ by Jacot de Boinod Can you guess the right definitions of the following words? 1) Findy

3) Famelled

(Hertfordshire dialect) A) of a pale green passing into greyish blue B) plentiful C) the soft hair of a rabbit

(Oxfordshire dialect) A) wet and miserable B) hungry C) tired, exhausted

2) Lish

(Hertfordshire dialect) A) the grown-out shoot of a stored potato B) of a lame horse, to limp C) to suck as a child does its thumb

(Oxfordshire dialect)

A) a pasture B) stunning, amazing C) of a man: handsome, good looking

4) Kibble

l Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the

television series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from around the World, published by Penguin Books. Having researched our rural dialect, he is setting a fun ‘Call-My-Bluff Quiz for Vale Life readers - mind your language now...

ANSWERS: 1B) plentiful 2A) a pasture 3B) hungry 4B) of a lame horse, to limp

andelion forcers are extremely rare. They are something between a rhubarb forcer and a tall narrow terracotta chimney. Cultivating dandelions became popular because of their medicinal properties, in the past it was not thought of as a weed, but as a common herb, as it is rich in nutrients. The Chinese were the first to recognise the dandelion’s attributes and used it for purifying the blood and helping the immune system. In the 10th/ 11th Century Arabic physicians found it helped the liver and the kidneys. The first mention of ‘dandelion’ in this Country is in Welsh medicines in the 13th Century. It became popular in Europe and could be found in kitchens and medicine cabinets. Every part of the plant is useful, the root, leaves and flower - the creamy juice is supposed to remove warts, but it didn’t work for my

children need a home in Thames Valley.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fostering crisis on your doorstep. Do something about it. Become a foster carer with FCA.

0808 278 4350 or fosterwithfca.co.uk Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

l Column

Amanda Trott

We all know it’s important to protect our skin from the harmful affects of the sun, Amanda Trott but which are the best ways? I’ve asked local experts what they recommend... Beauty Spot

he Summer holidays are well under way and for many, now is the time for the great escape to the sunshine, either here or abroad. We all understand the importance of protecting our skin from the sun, but how best can we avoid any harm being done, nourish sun-ravaged skin, and prolong that healthy tan and which products are the best? Here are some top tips from our local experts: Lauren Thorne (assistant manager at Monera Beauty Clinic, Thame (www.monera. co.uk). “My favourite product for the Summer is Guinot’s new Brume Hydra Beaute Mist. It’s a light refreshing spray that you can use to give moisture all day long, so is perfect for Summer and holidays. You can use it as part of your regular routine and apply it underneath your moisturiser after you’ve cleansed and toned and because it’s compact you can pop it in your beach, gym or handbag and mist over your face during the day without fear of smudging your makeup. Also the Hydradermie Cellular Energie facial is a wonderful personalised facial in which we can use a “Soleil” gel which prepares your skin before sun exposure or helps to repair once you’re home.” April Russell owner of Skin Society (www.treatwell.co.uk) is a fan of Environ and uses the range in her Thame salon. “Dr Des Fernandes, one of my favourite skin gurus and founder of Environ, claims SPF50 only offers 5% more protection from the sun than SPF15 and only uses SPF15 in his awardwinning suncream, RAD - the first antioxidant sunscreen in the world. It contains vitamins C and E and is safe, superior sun protection for all ages, including babies over 6 months. A fantastic treatment I recommend at the end of summer is micro-needling. A cosmetic device is rolled over your face and neck and tiny needles penetrate the skin, promoting collagen production, which can really help soften lines and reduce pigmentation caused by sun damage.” Bethany Mallinson, Practice Manager at Whitethorn Fields Medi Clinic (www. whitethornmediclinic.co.uk) believes that every person’s skin needs good skin care even if no pressing conditions are present. “This is particularly relevant throughout summer,” she says. “A daily broad spectrum sunscreen, antioxidant and gentle exfoliation will maintain 16

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

a beautiful complexion and delay the signs of ageing. We would recommend the highly active AlumierMD range and their top selling Sheer

Hydration SPF’, paired together with a good serum such as the Ultimate Boost Serum”. Laura Gilbey’s salon, Hidden Beauty (www.hiddenbeautyaylesbury.co.uk), is by the Bucks Goat Centre in Stoke Mandeville. “My summer advice is to exfoliate and moisturise, face and body. Your skin naturally thickens (more skin cells are produced to protect the skin) when exposed to sunlight, so by exfoliating twice a week (every day whilst on holiday) you’re helping to shed the excess dead skin cells leaving your skin smoother, brighter and allowing your moisturiser to be absorbed deeper into the skin, where it’s needed the most, you will also find your SPF to be more effective. If abroad your tan will look healthier and will last a lot longer. I swear by this advice and have been doing it for the last 15 years. I have definitely practiced what I preach!” Amanda Supple, owner of The White House in Thame (01844 260080) is a big believer in holistic skin care and only uses ranges in her clinic which contain the purest naturally derived ingredients and are free from chemicals. “I’m really impressed with Tropic’s

new summer skincare range. Not only are they free from parabens, unsustainable palm oils, formaldehydes, alcohol, petrochemicals, gluten, harsh preservatives, toxic chemicals, microbeads and lots of other nasties, they also have a gorgeous range of suncare products full of delicious ingredients such as passion flower, wild hibiscus flower, Australian aniseed myrtle and illawara plum. If you’re looking for something to enhance your tan then why not try their limited edition Summer Goddess Shimmering Body Oil? It’s a stunning body oil infused with golden shimmer and containing goodies such as virgin coconut and jojoba oils to keep your skin moisturised and tahitian and bourbon vanilla to keep you smelling delicious!” Prepare and Repair are the two words Ellen Aubrey, owner of Whitchurch salon 4Beauty (www.4-beauty.com) uses for Summer Skin. “I favour Guinot’s complete Sun-care menu of pre and post holiday Hydraderm Cellular Energy Soleil Facial Treatments coupled with their extensive range of Sun-care products that are formulated in their own specialist skincare laboratories. “Protection and Age-Prevention are what we expect from using Guinot’s top 5 selling products at our salon. 1. Pro Soleil Capsules Tan Activators 2. UV Defence SPF50 Dry Oil 3. Universal Bronze SPF15 Unifying Face Suncreen 4. Longue Vie Soleil Before & After Face Cream 5. Grand Soin Aprés Soleil After Sun Body Cream.” James Goldney of The Belmore Centre (www.belmorecentre.co.uk) in Stoke Mandeville suggests a combination of treatments and products to make the most of Summer skin. “We would advise that your skin would tan much better after an Advanced Microdermabrasion Treatment to remove the dead skin cells and prepare the skin and would also recommend that you hydrate your skin really well before going in the sun with our range of Clarins Moisturisers, perhaps a Multi Active Day Cream with an included SPF15. “If you are heading to an intensely sunny place, then we would recommend our vast range of award-winning Clarins Sun Protection.” l To contact Amanda with regard to Beauty Spot

features please email: editor@vale-life.co.uk

Column: Fitness Focus with James Virdi

The art of self defence

e all wish to feel safe and we have a right to defend ourselves if necessary, so learning to protect yourself within the law is sensible, it increases confidence and awareness and enables you to better cope with threatening situations. Self Defence Instructor James Virdi used to work for the UK Border Agency at Heathrow as a detainee custody officer and has escorted people from all over the world, back to their own countries, always with the highest security measures and procedures in place. “I’ve worked with many different agencies,” says James, “the police, armed police, enforcement officers, the military (UK & US), ambulance, flying medics and been faced with lots of different situations, some violent. I’ve had to defend myself and thanks to the amazing training I’d been given, I’ve never been injured. “There are simple but effective

James Virdi and self defence students self defence techniques that I now pass on, so others can defend themselves, within the law, too. “My self defence courses offer non-martial art, personal protection against: Hair pulls; Arm grabs; Wrist grabs; Sucker punches; Bear hugs (from front and rear); Head locks; Choke holds; Terror alerts (what to do); and I can offer private classes too if required.

“The classes are for men and women of any age and any fitness level. Self defence is simple to learn but very effective when applied in certain situations. “Each week we cover different aspects of self defence but start by recapping on the week before. “After the course has finished we will still support people on any of the techniques and we also invite people back at intervals of 6 to 8 weeks to see how much they remember. “I have been trained by some of the best instructors in the UK and gained a BTEC level 3 Self Defence award, which also covers the law in relation to the use of force, plus health and safety and providing a high standard of service. James has six week Self Defence courses starting 5th September, 7.30pm at Racquets Fitness Centre, North Street, Thame. Classes are £10, pay as you go, but book now for your six week

Health & Fitness

James Virdi

J V Self Defence course and you will receive the first lesson for FREE! and thereafter £7 per adult, £5 for under 16s. One to one lessons are available at £30 per one hour lesson, on Thursday daytimes in the Thame and surrounding area. Advanced Classes, Staff training and Safety Awareness classes are also available, prices upon request. l JV Self Defence

Contact James: 07546 475147 Tel: 01844 201386 Email: jv_self_defence@yahoo.com Website www.jvselfdefence.com

A salon with over 10 years experience, specialising in re-styles, colour work, hair and makeup for weddings and parties. To book an appointment call or pop in

01296 338 344

Duck Farm Court, Station Way, Aylesbury, HP20 2SQ

fb.com/saﬀronhair.uk

info@saffronhair.uk

Charlotte Mobile Hairdresser Professional Hairdressing for

Everyone All in the comfort of your own home

Over 12 years of salon experience Tel: 07479 939461 www.mobilehairdesign.com charlotte@mobilehairdesign.com • modern cutting techniques • colours (all types) • • colour correction • blow dry • curls & waves • • perms • sets • hair extensions • special occasions •

For all your beauty needs

Eyelash extensions, Elemis facials, Shellac and much more! 07771 330366 laura.gilbey@hiddenbeautyaylesbury.co.uk Unit 5, Layby Farm, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks. HP22 5XJ

www.hiddenbeautyaylesbury.co.uk

Back pain? Sport injury? Muscle/Joint pain? Posture related problems? Inflexibility? Stress related neck/shoulder tightness... We can free you from the discomfort caused by these and many other painful conditions. Come to Massage Matters specialist clinic in Thame for an assessment and see how we can help you.

Massage Matters, North Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3TH T: 01844 212022 E: hello@massagematters.clinic W: www.massagematters.clinic Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Bally good s If there’s one hairstyle that has taken the country, if not the world, by storm this last year, it is the Balayage and Thame salon Eclipse Hair Design have been a leading local light in the art...

lthough the Balayage has been around for a while, it is one of the most popular hair colour requests in salons today. It is particularly popular at the moment as it is being very visibly sported by models and celebrities on the catwalks and red carpets, such as Jennifer Lopez, Khloe Kardashian, Jessica Alba, Gisele and Kate Beckinsale, to name a few. Balayage is a skilled technique that hasn’t been widely taught in the UK until recently. However, Eclipse owner, Louise immediately saw its appeal and invited international hair colourist and educator, Jack Howard (the man who originally brought this technique to the UK) to the salon to personally train her team. Eighteen months later, the Thame team are all experienced and skilled Balayage technicians. “All of our stylists will be able to place the colour to suit your skin tone,” says Louise, “you’ll look amazing as it can really light up your features. It works for light and dark hair and for all but short-cropped hair.” Emma, Senior Designer at Eclipse, says: “If you’ve never tried colour before and are nervous of how it might

Jenna

Model: Jenna - enriched roots, balayage plus Rose Gold toning. Styled with Ghd Styling Tong

look, a subtle Balayage is a great way to start. It is a low maintenance and natural looking finish

that really flatters. “A Balayage grows out gracefully, looking natural without an obvious regrowth line, so it will last longer between appointments.” Eclipse uses Redken colour and hair care products.

Eclipse Hair Design, 56 North Street, Thame, OX9 3BH Tel: 01844 260062 Web: www.eclipsehair-design.co.uk Email: info@eclipsehair-design.co.uk Follow us on Twitter:

@eclipsethame and Facebook

Eclipse Hair Design

Book online via our website at: www.eclipsehair-design.co.uk 18

Like us on Facebook for up to date information and promotions: /Eclipse Hair Design

Instagram: eclipsehairdesignuk

show! NEW FACES! Eclipse Hair Design are pleased to welcome two new experienced and creative hair stylists to their busy team at Thame. They are Senior Designer, Chelsea (right), who has worked at Toni&Guyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aylesbury branch for the last 7 years, and Principal Director, Nicola (far right), who has joined after 18 years with another Thame Salon.

Chelsea

Nicola

ECLIPSE OPPORTUNITIES

Model Leah - natural balayage created with prelightener in mid sections and a crescendo of blonde building towards the ends. Styled with Ghd Styling Wand

As our current team of apprentices achieves their qualification this year, we are now recruiting level 2 or 3 apprentices. Personality and attitude is much more important than experience and qualifications, as Eclipse has its own top training and development programme, to help you become the best you can be.

The salon is also looking to recruit an inspirational stylist with good leadership skills. For more information on these exciting opportunities, please see our careers section of our website. For either role please send your CV to Louise Dockery at the salon or email for her attention to: louise@eclipsehair-design.co.uk

Leanne

DRINKS, ANYBODY?

To complete the pampering experience at this friendly and relaxed salon, Eclipse are pleased to announce they now serve Nespresso coffee and sell a range of selected wine and beer, in addition to their regular refreshment menu.

To see m work, c ore of our he Instagr ck out our am pa ge at eclipse hairdes ignuk

...Providing the ultimate salon experience

Try a Triathlon or Duathlon Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Sun day 31 Ju ly 2 6 01 Mini Olympic 600m SWIM, 34.5km CYCLE, 5km RUN

Why not combine some family fun with raising vital funds for Rennie Super GroveSprint Hospice Care this Duathlon September? Join in with the charity’s multi-coloured rainbow of runners as they scramble through the glorious Bucks countryside, having a real blast and doing a whole lot of good for a very deserving cause... 300m SWIM, 23km CYCLE, 5km RUN

5km RUN, 23km CYCLE, 5km RUN

ennie Grove Hospice Care’s most vibrant event to date will burst onto the stunning Penn House Estate, near Amersham, on Sunday, 24th September and you are invited to be part of it! Proudly sponsored by Origin Global, Colour Blast: The Scramble has the option of a 1k or 5k route, complete with obstacles and powder paint galore, making it the perfect activity for the entire family to enjoy. After an energetic warm up with Urban Attack – who are also providing the obstacles for both races, the family-friendly 1k is open to all ages and runners will set off at 10am into a cloud of brightly coloured, non-toxic powder paint with participants coming up against fun-sized obstacles designed for both children and adults to enjoy. If you prefer a bigger challenge, heading off at 10:45am there is a full 5k open to over 12s only, featuring adult-sized obstacles and plenty of coloured powder!

And they’re off - Colour Blast 2016

2 20

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

RAF Halton, Bucks

Registered Charity No. 1140386

Sign up for one of our three sponsored challenges to test your endurance, strength and stamina and raise money to support local patients and families with life-limiting illness.

well as spending time together as a www.renniegrove.org/rafhaltontri family. 01442 820740

“We are immensely grateful to RUN Origin Global who have agreed to be our headline sponsor once again CYCLE SWIM for this event!” Sponsored by Rennie Grove provides 24/7 responsive hospice home Entrants must at be 16 or over care to adults and children with cancer and other life-limiting illness and other services to support patients and their families. All proceeds from Colour Blast: The Scramble will go towards funding the £7.6 million needed to run these services annually, which are offered at no cost to patients or their families. Online registration is now open. Grove Hospice Care, explains: Choose between the 1k colourful “This was such a fantastic event fun run with mini obstacles for just last year, when over 500 people £10, or challenge come together to be blasted with 3 Peaks Challengeyourself 2016 to the ultimate 5k obstacle course for £25. colour, that we just had to bring it For more information about this back again this year. We have also event and to register visit: www. added some mini obstacles into the renniegrove.org/colourblast or call 1k for an extra fun element. I did it 01442 820740. with my kids last year and they had an amazing time. It’s a great way l Rennie Grove Hospice Care to raise funds for a local charity as www.renniegrove.org ntr y Team e ble av ail a for the s n triathlo

3 Peaks Challenge 2016 Up and over - Colour Blast 2016 Both are guaranteed to have you wearing a coat of many colours when you pick up your medal at the finish line! All participants will receive a t-shirt and a pair of funky sunglasses that MUST be worn to protect your eyes from the coloured powder. Gillian Barnett, Director of Fundraising & Marketing at Rennie

Column: Fitness Focus with Harriet Moran-Smith

Tone up at the barre B

allet is in Harriet MoranSmith’s blood! Her mum was a professional dancer and Harriet took her first ballet class at the age of three! She trained at The Royal Ballet School and with the Birmingham Royal Ballet under ballet greats such as Jonathan Cope and Irek Mukhamedov. After a successful career as a dancer she moved into acting and spent 5 years voicing the BBC cartoon character Rosie in Everything’s Rosie. Having taken a break to have a baby Harriet was desperate to dance again and feel toned as she was as a dancer. “I couldn’t find anything that worked my body in the same way,” says Harriet. “Which inspired me to create Barre Sculpt. I knew ballet techniques toned my body in a way that nothing else could and was sure other people would feel the same, whether they danced or not.” In Barre Sculpt, Harriet has drawn on her years of ballet training to devise a class that will sculpt people’s bodies into lean and

strong dancers while being fun and totally accessible to people with no experience of dancing! “We do the class to pop music,” she says, “and it really buzzes. Everyone is in high spirits and works as a team to spur each other on. It’s a really enjoyable way to exercise. “We have students ranging from their teens to their 70s, men and women, fitness fanatics and people who have never done any exercise before - even multiple generations of the same families. Barre Sculpt is a form of exercise that everyone can take at their own pace, you can make it super difficult if you’re in training for a marathon and want to really stretch yourself, or you can

ReturnReflexology to Equilibrium for all ages I combine biomedical knowledge and a calm personality, with the gentleness of reflexology, for a positive impact on your emotional and physical health and to help you feel good about yourself. I am available for home visits or you can come to my peaceful treatment room in the village of Towersey. Please call 07852 923927 for more information or email: tais@returntoequilibrium.co.uk

Tais van Ondheusden

BSc Biomedical Science, ITEC Diploma Reflexology

Aylesbury Sports Massage For all your aches, pains and injuries

take it easy if you’re a beginner, getting over an injury, have recently had a baby or are just feeling out of shape. Everyone can do the same exercises but at their own level. “As with ballet, Barre Sculpt highlights the importance of posture. There’s a lot of emphasis on losing weight at the moment but I’m sure most people can recognise that a larger person with good posture and lots of confidence looks fantastic, whereas a skinny person with terrible posture and little confidence does not. “Barre Sculpt gives people a check list to use in their everyday lives which will encourage perfect posture to become second nature. It is also about toning and lengthening muscles rather than bulking them. We aim to be long and lean and sculpted like a dancer, not built up. We also work a lot on flexibility, which has huge injury preventing benefits, and balance, which is of special benefit to sporting types no matter what they play. Our other key focus is core strength - once you have a strong

Health & Fitness

Harriet Moran-Smith core the rest of the body can work freely in any way you wish it to.” l www.barresculpt.co.uk

Contact Harriet on: 07739 123191 Email: info@barresculpt.co.uk Facebook.com/Barre Scul Instagram - Barresculptuk Classes: Tue 12noon-1pm Halton Tennis Centre; 8-9pm at The Misbourne School Great Missenden Wed 12.30-13.30pm at The Oldham Hall, Great Missenden, 7-8pm Princes Risborough School Thur - 11am-12noon at Halton Tennis Centre, 8.10-9.10pm at Halton Tennis Centre Book an eight week eight class term for £80 or one off classes (subject to space) for £12 PAYG rate. Private lessons by request.

ANTONIA BARNES MCFHP MAFHP FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER

II CAN CAN TREAT TREATCorns, Corns,calluses, calluses,cracked crackedheels, heels, nail problems, thickened nails and can treat nail problems, thickened nails and can treat people who have diabetes. people who have diabetes. II CAN CAN OFFER OFFERVisits Visitsininthe thecomfort comfort of of your your own home, a warm attitude, generalroom, foot care own home or atcaring my Thame treatment including regular nail cutting and filing and a a warm caring attitude, general foot care foot massage at the of your including regular nailend cutting and treatment. filing and a foot massage at the end of your treatment. TO ARRANGE A VISIT OR FOR MORE TO ARRANGE A VISIT OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT ANTONIA BARNES INFORMATION CONTACT ANTONIA BARNES 01844 261766 or 07795 01844 261766 or 07795 692464 692464 www.feetforlifethame.com www.feetforlifethame.com

Helping to keep your feet in a healthy condition Based in Thame, I am also a fully qualified massage therapist offering holistic massage and reflexology REGISTERED MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONERS

MINDFULNESS TRAINING

Contact Clare Davies Hartwell, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Tel: 01296 747477 Email: clare@aylesburysportsmassage.co.uk Website: www.aylesburysportsmassage.co.uk Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: Fitness Focus with Joe Harman

Health & Fitness

Let’s all get a move on!

t Bucks-based physical rehabilitation and fitness organisation Breaking Barriers (www. breakingbarriers.fitness) we are leading an online fitness initiative campaign #BucksMovesMe, which aims to support and inspire people in Buckinghamshire of ANY ability to get active and move a little more. Getting active and moving a little bit more has many benefits for mood, health, fitness, confidence, wellbeing, thinking skills, sleep, rehabilitation and more... and we want to hear from you and share your pictures and stories as part of #BucksMovesMe! Whether you are taking part in rehab exercises, walking, stretching, wheelchair exercises, yoga, taking part in disability sport, gymnastics, dancing, cycling, running, planning rounders, or training for a race, #BucksMovesMe is inspired by

Joe Harman #BucksMovesMe

#BucksMovesMe you and wants to celebrate your achievements! We also want to support and inspire others by sharing all the local activities you are involved in in and the amazing things you are doing, and how others could take part too. We would like anyone in Buckinghamshire to share their

pictures and videos of how they have been getting active and moving more. It might be a photo of you, or your friend and family taking part in an activity, or it might be a photo of the gym, pool, river, boat, or countryside where you are. If you post your photos on social media and tag us in using the

hashtag #BucksMovesMe, we will like, share, and comment on as much as we can. We are on twitter and Instagram - find us at @BucksMovesMe We also have a website: www. bucksmovesme.com, where we can share photos and we invite people to blog for us telling just how you have been getting active in Buckingamshire! Have a look and see what you think - we would love you or your family and friends, to take part. l #BucksMovesMe www.bucksmovesme.com

Clear up Fungal Nail infections with Clearanail For years treating fungal nails has been a challenge for podiatrists. This very common condition causes nails to become unsightly, thick and uncomfortable. Unfortunately traditional over-the-counter treatments are largely ineffective, because the active ingredients cannot generally penetrate deeply enough into the nail to get at the whole of the infection. Clinically proven Clearanail is an innovative new concept using Controlled Micro Penetration, which creates micro pathways into the nail plate, allowing deeper access to the areas of infection without damaging the nail bed beneath. Each of the tiny holes can be drilled in less than five seconds, using an intelligent drill that can sense when it is through the nail plate. These holes allow the topical treatment, which must be applied regularly, to reach the infection effectively. Only one treatment is needed, so this

Before

After

remedy is considerably cheaper than laser treatments. Patient testamonial “I had nail fungus for 10 years. Two toenails were severely disfigured although I had tried about every over the counter remedy available. I had a consultation with Jenney Klose at Feet First Clinic and decided to give myself a Christmas present and try her Fungal Nail Treatment. Six months later I am really happy with the results as my nails are perfectly healthy now!! It’s worth the money and the time.” Linda Emery, former Mayor of Thame

Jenney Klose

‘Excellence for all your foot care needs’ Visit our new shoe shop Summer range now in!

Feet First, 13a Upper High Street, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3ER Tel: 01844 261023 Email: enquiries@feet-first.org www.feet-first.org 22

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: ‘Kiss & tell’ with Tracy Kiss

Vale Life : Mar/Apr 2017

Time to detox your life?

he power of positivity is an incredible thing and in light of the raised awareness for mental health in the media I’d like to discuss detoxing from life. More often than not we surround ourselves with people and things that we find comfortable and familiar because we’re simply creatures of habit; yet what we are most used to isn’t always the best for us long term. Sometimes you have to think outside of the box, assess your situation with a fresh perspective and recognise what exactly is necessary against that which has actually become quite unhealthy for you. It’s about recognising quality over quantity as we frequently overlook the end goal - to fill our lives with peace, love and happiness because we’re all too easily blinded by the chaos of daily life. We oddly base the success of relationships,

‘Embrace change,’ says Tracy, pictured on a recent photoshoot friendships, jobs and even our homes on the idea of longevity, desperately trying to keep hold of everything and everyone around us for as long as possible; whereas we

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get the greatest reward and goodfeeling in life from finding what is truly right for us, even if we only have it a short while. And that’s exactly why we need to detox our lives - not only from the typical cigarettes, junk food and alcohol we forgo in search of the perfect summer body, but also from toxic relationships, toxic friendships and toxic routines for the sake of our mental health. If you wake up every morning dreading the hours that lay ahead, the conversations you really don’t want to have and the emotions you know will undoubtedly darken your day then you’re in need of a life detox and you can only achieve that with change. Change can be scary, but it’s only the fear of the unknown, and trust me when I tell you that cutting ties to everything that is toxic in your life and jumping in at the deep end to move away from the things that

Tracy Kiss

Kiss & tell hurt, upset and stress you out brings the most exhilarating positivity and freedom that you’ve probably never experienced before. It’s something I’ve found incredibly cathartic, uplifting and life affirming; my lifestyle has entirely changed as I approach the end of my twenties and what I accepted as a teenager I realise I no longer accept as a woman - a perfectly healthy transition for us all to make. l Read Tracy’s blog at: www.tracykiss.com or follow her on: Twitter: @misstracykiss or Facebook: /TheTracyKiss

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

A growing number of people are turning to the great outdoors to keep themselves fit and healthy, so if you live in the Aylesbury area, what are your options for some al fresco fitness...

n the UK there are now more than 10.5 million people, aged over sixteen, who take part in outdoor exercise or fitness activities on a regular basis, according to Sport England. This has grown threefold in the last decade! Here in Aylesbury we are no exception and so it’s lucky we are actually spoilt for choice for activities and fitness groups in the fresh Buckinghamshire air. But what is the attraction of training outside over a stylish modern temperature controlled, gym or studio? Rob Francis personal trainer and instructor at

Rob Francis

Vale Life : Aug-Sept 2017

RJFitness has been a lifelong gym user but says: “It’s now been proven that training outdoors is better for you than working out inside. Moving over rough terrain, or negotiating physical obstacles, whilst running or training outdoors, actually burns extra calories as it engages more muscles. It even sharpens the mind, as you need to be on your toes and more alert, if you are constantly adjusting to your surroundings. “I’ve also found that being outdoors gives me and the members of my classes a fresh and exciting edge that you can’t get inside a gym. We are able to move around freely and make use of all the physical features available to challenge in more interesting ways.” One particular form of outdoor endeavour which has exploded in popularity across the UK, over the last couple of years, is the growing phenomenon that is the obstacle course race. These, often muddy mucker style, challenges have grown so much in popularity that enthusiasts now have their own magazines dedicated to the fun sport. Along with this growth has been an increase in triathlon races and of course the proliferation of the less intense, but no less of a national craze, Park Runs. In Aylesbury there’s a 5km Park Run that sets off every Saturday from Meadowcroft Park. It’s aim is to get anyone who wants to,

joining online and then turning up and have a go. The event is extremely popular with more than 200 local people taking part each week everyone from athletes to absolute beginners. You may also have noticed that a plethora of outdoor boot camps and other robust classes, that challenge people both physically and mentally, have sprung up across the local area, over the last few years. It is this kind of training that Rob and his RJFitness team offer at both Vale Park in the centre of town and at the fantastic open space that is Meadowcroft Park, just a stone’s throw from the new housing estates of Buckingham Park and Berryfields. “Ours is a unique mix of fun fitness, boot camp style circuits and most importantly,

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

lots of laughs and the opportunity to make new friends,” says Rob. “The sessions are designed to appeal to absolute beginners as well as athletes who want to improve specific aspects of their training - people of all levels of fitness.” Laura from Buckingham Park has been going to RJFitness sessions for the last four months; “We get to train in pairs and as individuals, as well as in teams.,” she says. “The

constant mix up of exercises and challenges make it so much fun that the time just flies!” “We pride ourselves on ensuring no two sessions are ever the same,” says Rob, “and we have a real mix of instructors who bring fresh ideas and perspectives to their sessions.” As well as being fun these outdoor sessions give RJFitness members real results. Whether their aim is to make new friends and grow in confidence or to lose weight, members are often astounded how quickly they see a difference. Claire, 31 and the chief assistant instructor says “The combination of all over exercise, some high intensity training elements, as well as working in groups and with partners, means that our members get a full body work out and total body conditioning - all whilst having fun. “Also because we aim to have two instructors on every session we are always able to give everyone the attention they deserve. I have personally been able to help more than one of our girls find their abs and even achieve the first sit ups they have ever done, as part of our sessions. This takes a bit of one to one

work as the session goes on, but I love giving members that time and effort”. So - if you want to embrace the great outdoors, try something new this year and break free from the stuffy confines of four walls, or if you want to make new life-long friends with shared experiences of training in the sunshine, rain and whatever else the great British weather has in store for us, why not look up RJFitness or the Park Run or even sign up for the Colour Rush Run that takes place in October? You’ll discover a fresh new you and a fresh new outlook on Aylesbury. RJFitness also run corporate health and wellbeing packages for small to large companies and offer great corporate team building packages - either half day or full day events - at a location that suits the company or at one of their locations in Hertfordshire or Cambridgeshire. l RJ Fitness Tel: 07860802628 Email: hello@rjfitness.co.uk Web: www.rjfitness.co.uk Facebook.com/rjfrancisltd

Vale Life : Aug-Sept 2017

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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This is a charity event raising funds for Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity, Registered Charity Number: 1119499

Colours fly for Hospice

Up to 1,000 men, women and children will create clouds of colour chaos for a very deserving local charity at Colour Rush on October 8th. Why not show your true colours too and join them at Green Park, Aston Clinton in aid of Florence Nightingale Hospice’s Florrie’s Children’s Team...

olour Rush is a fantastic fun event for the whole family: it’s based around a 5k circular route which you can run, jog or walk and spread out around the course are five colour stations, where the runners get showered with multi-coloured powder as they go past! It’s open to the whole family, with a ‘MiniRush’ taking place before the main event for any little ones who want to be part of this spectacular event, but who might not manage

the full 5k. It’s not just for fun though - Colour Rush helps the Charity raise crucial funds for Florrie’s Children’s Team, which provides respite care in their own home, for children suffering with life-limiting illness. Sponsors like Nuffield Health Aylesbury, Premier Windows, Mix96, Redrow Homes and others help keep the costs down, so more cash can go to providing this much-needed service to local families.

Last year, more than 550 people became walking rainbows for Florence Nightingale Hospice and raised over £14,000 for the Hospice. This year the Charity is hoping that Colour Rushers will help to raise at least £25,000 for the Florrie’s Team and you could play a part in that. Anyone registering before 1st September can take advantage of the Early Bird Offer and save up to 20% off entry. Colour Rush 2017 will take place at Green Park in Aston Clinton at 11am and 2pm on Sunday, 8th October, 2017, the final day of Hospice Care Week. See the FNHC website for more details at www.fnhospice.org.uk/colour-rush and for news and updates, like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ florencenightingalehospice l Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity (FNHC) Unit 2 Walton Lodge, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 7QY Tel: 01296 429975 Web: www.fnhospice.org.uk Facebook: /florencenightingalehospice Twitter: @fnhospice Registered Charity 1119499

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: ‘Good Health’ with Sandra Smith

Sing for your health

f you regard singing as simply projecting your voice, or a career choice for the few, you’re not hitting the right note. Singing is within everyone’s range, and you don’t have to be a professional to benefit from the extensive health repercussions it offers. Carol Canning is founder of Thame’s The Greatest Hits Choir and recognises the many areas influenced by singing. “Deep breathing – taking in a really deep breath then letting it out gradually – is good for asthma, and people with stammers don’t stammer when they sing. Posture is important because if you don’t stand properly it affects your breathing. Try thinking of the whole length of your body up the spine and into the skull. You don’t want to break that line. You have to make sure you feel wide and open across the chest with shoulders going away from each other. Your

Carol and choir in action

skull needs to be well balanced on top of your spine to avoid strain on neck muscles. Keeping the knees soft ensures you stay relaxed.” Although reading music isn’t a necessity, learning words while concentrating is a positive mental exercise. Each member is encouraged to be aware of others. In fact, the social aspect is one of the attractions of joining her choir. “A lot of people want to get out and make new friends. A choir brings people together, everyone

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rubs along really well. It’s a team building thing.” Carol stresses that singing outside your comfort volume is akin to shouting and tension can restrict your throat. On the other hand the feeling of achievement after learning a new song is tangible. A strong tradition of singing has long pervaded this country with choirs now more popular than ever. And they are no longer limited to classical music. Rock and pop reflects members’ choices while Carol teaches familiar songs (from Bridge Over Troubled Water to Les Miserables’ Master of the House) along with some challenging arrangements. Singing is an holistic pastime that aids our physical, emotional and social wellbeing by animating the body, mind and spirit. It is also energising - an aerobic activity that exercises muscles, simultaneously releasing endorphins, improving

Good Health

Sandra Smith posture and mental alertness. So whether you want to learn a new skill or join a group of like minded people, and regardless of whether you’ve sung before, take this Guildhall School of Music and Drama trained tutor’s advice: ‘singing makes people feel good!’ Thame’s Greatest Hits Choir rehearses during school terms at The Scout Hut, Thame. For details contact Carol: 07704 886418 or see: www.carolcanning.co.uk l Find out more about Sandra

Smith’s work as a freelance writer by following her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visiting her website: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk

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Column: Nick Phillips ‘Good to give’

Looking to build futures

here are around 100,000 regular volunteers in Bucks. People volunteer for all sorts of different reasons; to share their skills, meet new people, make a difference to their local community and, for some, it’s a route back into paid employment. A new project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, has just launched at our offices to help local people do just that. Led by Adviza, Building Futures will help at least 400 people back into employment, job seeking or education and training over the next two and half years. This is all about local people and giving them a future. Rightly, it has a particular focus on those considered to be furthest away from the job market but the benefits will go so much further and give hope to their families, partners, children and wider communities. Community Impact Bucks (CIB)

is just one of the nine partners in the project and will make sure that volunteering takes its rightful place as an excellent way for people to refresh their skills, update their CVs or just have some much-needed exposure to a work environment. But it’s not all about volunteering. I’m sure we can all remember our experiences of job-seeking; wondering if our application was

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what the employer was looking for, worrying about how to behave in an interview, concerned that our skills were out of date. Now imagine if you’ve not worked for a long time, perhaps have never worked, or find yourself unexpectedly having to find work. Long term unemployment is never down to one thing, it could be due to mental or physical health issues, transport, housing, child care… the list is extensive. Bucks Mind is one of the project partners and they’ve already had success helping a client find a job. “Sarah came to us in February after having been made redundant from a company she’d been employed with for many years,” says Bucks Mind employment support worker, Rebecca Dean. “She’d lost a lot of confidence and self-esteem but, as she’d signed up to Building Futures, we could provide more intensive assistance through 1-1 guidance and emotional support.

Nick Phillips

Good to give “Over four months we worked to provide a positive way forward for Sarah, helping her with her CV, job applications and interview tips as she’d not had a job interview for many years. After only her third interview Sarah was offered a fulltime job!” For Sarah, the support she gained was invaluable, “It’s been so much help to me and I wish more people knew there was help like this to access!” Well, now after reading this, hopefully they will! Find out more by calling CIB on: 0300 111 1250. l Nick Phillips is CEO of

Community Impact Bucks: Tel: 0300 1111 250 www.communityimpactbucks.org.uk

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Column: Bookworm with Waterstones

Fiction Book of the Month: Hot Milk, Deborah Levy A haunting, enigmatic novel analysing a daughter’s relationship with her mother, and the damage they inflict on one another. On the surface not much happens: Sofia accompanies her mother Rose to a beach resort in Spain where they attend a local clinic to find the mysterious ailment that prevents her mother walking, and has various affairs interspersed with a visit to her Greek father and his new family. However, it is full of symbolic resonances. Levy is very perceptive at identifying connections, and her characters are fully realised, and she fully inhabits their psychological dilemmas. A story with a dreamlike vibe, wonderful writing and, interestingly, a book open to each person’s own interpretations. Non-Fiction Book of the Month: Hillbilly Elegy, J. D. Vance The hillbilly seeking the American Dream in industrial Ohio was always “a stranger in a strange land”, for he cleaved to his

Book reviews a little bit scary tale. It has the perfect amounts of character development, action and humour that come together to create a memorable story.

Appalachian identity, the old folks in the hollers - and returned to the welcoming hills every chance he could get. But economic decline left its mark on both mountain culture and urban manufacturing. Opportunities shrunk, hard liquor was supplemented by painkillers and heroin, church attendance fell and so did belief in the American Dream. 2016 is the year of Donald Trump, and J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy should be at the top of every politico and thought leader’s reading list living in the Acela corridor. An extremely candid account of

growing up disadvantaged and white. Children’s Book of the Month The Legend of Podkin One-Ear, Kieran Larwood A brilliant crossover between The Lord of the Rings and Watership Down, this book tells the story of a young rabbit, Podkin, whose cosy life is ripped apart, and he finds himself on the run along with his big sister Paz and baby brother Pook, pursued by an implacable foe. This is an atmospheric, fastpaced, funny, touching and even

Thriller Book of the Month: The Dry, Jane Harper Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to Kiewarra, the small, rural Australian town where he grew up, when he hears that his childhood best friend, Luke, is dead, along with Luke’s wife and young son. It is up to Aaron to discover what really happened. The writing is excellent, the pacing quick with fully fleshed characters, and the ending satisfying without being too cut and dry. Half the fun of this story is, even if you guess at the who, you probably won’t guess the why until it’s revealed. This was a perfect example of a book being extremely dark and terrifying without being overly graphic for the shock value. l Reviews by Diana at Waterstones, Aylesbury Tel: 01296 423153 Web: www.waterstones.com

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Column: Down to business with Philippa Batting

How do we define Bucks?

have been thinking recently about how Buckinghamshire fits into the concepts of identity and place, and what it means to say that you live and work in Buckinghamshire. Individuals have always placed importance on where they are from and take pride in extolling the virtues of hometowns and adopted lands. Ask someone to define Mancunians or Liverpudlians, or those from Yorkshire, Lancashire or Cornwall, and for better or worse you will get plenty of responses some on the money, others drifting into cliché. Ultimately though, most of us feel like we can describe people from these parts of the country. This familiarity from afar also extends to culture, famous landmarks and an area’s landscape. When you visit places like the above you know what you are going to get. This sense of what an area

and its people are like helps to attract visitors and workers, as well as business investment. But what defines Buckinghamshire and its people? I wonder how those born in our different towns view their heritage. Do they consider themselves as being from one of the market towns in the ‘Shires’, are they from ‘just outside London’, or the Thames Valley, or perhaps the Chilterns? Buckinghamshire is far from the leafy suburban plaything of the rich that ‘Millionaire’s Row’ in Beaconsfield suggests. Compare

and contrast Aylesbury with Chesham or High Wycombe with Princes Risborough and you’ll see why it’s hard to form one Buckinghamshire identity that all residents can forge a bond over. Perhaps we should learn from Milton Keynes, the rebellious sibling often cut loose from the Buckinghamshire family that has no trouble defining itself in those very terms. This diversity makes it a challenge to market Buckinghamshire as a tourism destination. One of the most common questions I hear is: ‘Where is it exactly?’ Bordering London, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire doesn’t seem to help people pinpoint our location. Indeed it may hinder, as we get lost in the shuffle. It’s fair to say this doesn’t help with forging an identity either.

Philippa Batting Down to business

Identity isn’t tribalism, it’s pride in a place, and this matters because in an increasingly divisive world it’s important to remember that uniqueness is worth celebrating. If folks visit Yorkshire for the Moors and the tea rooms, Cornwall for the calm and the coast and Liverpool for the culture and the heritage, what brings them to Buckinghamshire? I’d love to hear your thoughts on what Buckinghamshire is as a place and whether you identify with it as a whole. Please email me at: Philippa@bbf.uk.com. l Philippa Batting is MD of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), working to support and facilitate success within the business community. Membership is free - visit: www.bbf.uk.com

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Doing a great job? Business awards are a great way of putting your organisation firmly on the map - just being nominated gives your brand a real boost. You don’t need to be a huge business with hundreds of employees to enter - and win awards, either - a sole trader can take part and win. It’s a win, win situation really - as acclaimed film critic, Barry Norman used to say: “and, why not?”...

ncgen, the business service arm of Aylesbury Vale District Council, has launched the 5 Star Business Awards to recognise the continued excellence of organisations trading or based in the Vale of Aylesbury, with the winners to be announced, in glittering fashion, at a celebration ball taking place on November 15th, 2017, at The Oculus, AVDC’s prestigious offices in Aylesbury. There are 12 awards to enter, with categories spanning different sectors and genres of business, plus individual awards. All will culminate at the Awards Ceremony in November, which promises to be a sensational evening for the local economy. More information can be found here: www.5starbusinessawards.co.uk The awards categories are: • Boss of the Year • Employee of the Year • Entrepreneur of the Year • Online business of the Year • Creative business of the Year • Most innovative business of the Year • Independent retail business of the Year • Overall best new business of the Year • Community impact business of the Year • Leisure or tourist attraction of the Year • Manufacturing or Engineering company of the Year • Customer services excellence business of the Year There will also be an additional “Top Secret” award on the night, that any shortlisted business could win and which has the potential to truly change the fortunes of the winner! The main sponsors of the awards, AVDC and Mix96 - Aylesbury’s local radio station, are in place to add further glitter and prestige to the proceedings. Sponsors of each award category will be announced on 11th September along with the

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

The con

names of all the businesses shortlisted for an award. The Judges will then meet each entrant to further assess their eligibility, winners will be chosen and then announced and celebrated on 15th November. The Jive Aces, pictured above, will provide the swingiest, most jivetastic entertainment throughout the evening. These accomplished musicians are renowned worldwide for their high-energy performance and spectacular showmanship and are firmly established as the UK’s No.1. Jive and Swing band. They’ve even appeared on Britain’s Got Talent! Colin Newell, Managing Director of organisers Incgen says: “Our awards will recognise how hard businesses in our region work and reward them for their achievements and successes. Our awards ceremony will recognise the entrants and the winners and further underline the talent, invention and dedication to customers the businesses that trade in, or are based within, the Vale of Aylesbury, demonstrate daily. Let’s shout about our successes. We’re proud of the

business community and we’re looking forward to celebrating with them on 15th November. “This is our inaugural event, but we already envisage it becoming an annual occasion which local organisations look forward to. The overarching aim of the 5 Star Awards is to promote the businesses and the professionals who make our locality such an enjoyable place to live and work. “The 12 awards are designed to recognise every business - all types and sizes - and we would encourage all to take part It’s free to enter and it couldn’t be simpler as there is a dedicated website assigned to entrants at: www.5starbusinessawards.co.uk with a section for those who wish to sponsor the awards as well.” l Incgen 5 Star Businesss Awards, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 8FF Email: info@5starbusinessawards.co.uk Web: www.5starbusinessawards.co.uk Twitter: @5starbizawards

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Five Star Business Awards

Recognising the best Incgen is proud to be hosting the new 5 star business awards in partnership with Aylesbury Vale District Council and Mix96. The free to enter awards will recognise the best businesses, the best boss and the best employee that are based within Aylesbury Vale or trade within it.

Awards Ball Celebration on 15 November 2017

Enter online now at

www.5starbusinessawards.co.uk

Categories Online Business of the Year

Creative Business of the Year Community Impact Business of the Year Leisure or Tourist Attraction of the Year

Manufacturing or Engineering Company of the Year Customer Services Excellence Business of the Year Boss of the Year

Employee of the Year

Entrepreneur of the Year Most Innovative Business of the Year Independent Retail Business of the Year Overall Best New Business of the Year

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

by Cathy Soughton

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

The Rothschilds and Tring

until 1872 that the self-styled Baron Lionel de Rothschild, bought the large Tring Park Estate for £230,000, (a colossal sum at the time), as a gift for his eldest son Nathaniel, known he wealthy Rothschild as Natty and at the time Liberal banking family have long MP for Aylesbury. No expense was been associated with the spared in improving the estate - but Vale of Aylesbury, at one Natty was then probably the richest time having seven country houses man in the British Empire! Like in the area. One of the towns many of his Rothschild relatives, where the family’s activities had a he also helped improve the living considerable impact is Tring and a and working conditions of local new booklet ‘The Rothschilds and Tring’ people whether his employees or by Tim Amsden, Chairman of Tring not. 50 new houses were built and Local History Museum has recently given to the town and plots of land been published. It is a fascinating were provided for the building of account of the family’s connections new churches and halls. Natty’s with Tring and dispels some myths philanthropic wife Emma, (also his and misunderstandings about them. cousin) concentrated on charitable The booklet takes you through six work which included setting up the generations of the family, with links Nightingale Lodge nursing home to Tring, providing a brief biography and the Louisa Cottages almshouses. of key members and also covers The Rothschild with perhaps the the impressive Mansion, (now Tring most lasting influence was Natty and Park School for the Performing Emma’s elder son Walter. Socially Arts), Tring Park, the wonderful awkward, Walter had a lifelong Natural History Museum and the passion for zoology and at the age grand Rose and Crown Hotel, newly of seven declared his intention built in 1905. to start a museum. This became The Rothschilds started a reality when his father had the purchasing land in the Vale of Natural History Museum built as his Aylesbury in the 1830s but it was not 21st birthday present - it first opened

Tim Amsden’s new booklet

to the public in 1892. He filled Tring Park with exotic animals including giant tortoises and zebras and the edible dormouse (glis glis) which now annoyingly inhabit many lofts in the area. The nearby Champneys estate (now the well known spa resort) was also purchased by Natty who planned on it being Emma’s dower house after his death. She never lived there though and remained at Tring Mansion until she died in 1935. Her grandson Victor inherited the Tring estate but had little affection for it and much was sold in 1938. The family ceased to live at the mansion although the banking business was temporarily moved there for safety during WW2. The Rothschild family

still own parcels of land in the town and Jacob Rothschild, great great grandson of Baron Lionel de Rothschild, who also inherited the Waddesdon estate is the current Lord of the Manor of Tring. Many more details are provided in the booklet (priced £3.50) which is on sale at Tring Local History Museum, Brook Street. The museum is open every Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm: www.tringlocalhistorymuseum.org.uk If you’d like to win a signed copy of ‘The Rothschilds and Tring’ and also copies of ‘The Washingtons of Tring’ and ‘A Surprising Walk in Tring Park’ please email your name, address and telephone number plus your answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk What did Walter Rothschild get for his 21st birthday? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by September 4th. l Cathy Soughton is a professional genealogist and architectural historian providing family history and house history research in the local area. W: www.bucksresearch.co.uk, E: soughton@btopenworld.com, T: 01296 624845

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Day Delegate rates starting from £23 per person Book your meeting today by calling our Events team on: 01296 734030 Email: events@hinnaylesbury.com www.hiaylesburyhotel.co.uk/meetings

New recruit for Aylesbury office team PreSS reLeASe

handler Garvey are pleased to announce that Albert Chandler has joined their Aylesbury Office. Albert, 21, (2nd from right in picture) will be a valuable addition to the Aylesbury team in his role as Commercial Agency Assistant. His previous

employment was at a racing yard in Aston Rowant and the photograph here shows him with his hero AP McCoy and Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton. Albert will continue to have an active role in amateur racing and is hoping to ride out next year at the local Point to Point.

CHAnDLer GArVey MArkeT neW COMMerCIAL BUy TO LeT to let / OPPOrTUnITy C6 Brunel Gate, Aylesbury to let / A2 Brunel Gate, Aylesbury In AyLeSBUry For Sale (long leasehold) 6,696 sq ft For Sale (long leasehold) 4,243 sq ft Alan Chandler, Director of Chandler Garvey has been instructed by Kingston Space Ltd to

Modern high bay Mid terrace industrial market the Space Business Centre, a development ofa27 units located in one back to back warehouse in unit in well-located easily accessible distribution terrace and 16 units in the other. The units are ofindustrial modern construction, having been built in distribution area. centre. Constructed 2009. The sizes range from 367 sq. ft. up to 908 sq. ft. and are fitted with a mezzanine floor. Spec includes 7m approx 10 years ago The site, total accommodation on the estate is 19,541with sq.floor ft. The site eaves, secure loading of benefits from tax and stamp roller shutter per sq m.yields will be higher than yields on dutydoors, savings, cheaper than renting, commercial 50Kn investment first floor offices, Electronic(small loading business rate relief), and residential buy to lets, all units are business rates exempt reception area and doors, 7m eaves, kitchen. there is a dedicated unit and visitor parking. kitchen and WC EPC D78. accommodation.

The freehold is owned by Aylesbury Vale District Council and Kingston Space Ltd are the long leaseholders, over 130 years remaining. 12 with Howard Industrial Estate, Units are available from £64,000 plus VAT.Friary Loft

To Let

- 2,213 ft now producing a gross annual Aylesbury - 16,000 All units are let onChesham monthly licences andsq are income in excess of £300,000. Further details from Alan Chandler – ac@chandlergarvey.com / 01296 398383.

The property is situated within a terrace of steel portal framed industrial units and benefits from a solid concrete floor, roller shutter door, good on site parking and 3 phase electricity.

To Let The property fronts and has access from both Walton Street (the A413) and Friars Road (the A41). Car parking 1:308 sq ft, VAV air-conditioning, 2 passenger lifts, 1 goods lift, full access raised floors, suspended ceiling with integral lighting and excellent natural light.

sq ft

Open plan area located on the fourth floor above the popular Friars Square Shopping Centre. Space to be refurbished to provide accommodation suitable for offices, gymnasium, nightclub, and any other leisure or employment use.

Blue Leanie, Aylesbury 3,133 – 13,305 sq ft

to let A modern industrial warehouse of steel portal frame construction with profile cladding and attractive externals. Access is via a roller shutter door. 6m eaves, fitted f/f offices, gas central heating, double glazing, suspended ceilings with integral lighting, WC, kitchenette

6 Millennium Point Aylesbury - 6,623 sq ft

and car parking.

A new perspective on property

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Step inside by Polly Gibbs

Sofa so good Are you sitting comfortably, no? Then we’ll begin the Ultimate Sofa Buying Guide...

Otillie Sofa in Tumeric Mohair from Love Your Home

Staying in has become the new going out, with many of us preferring to have friends round instead. No surprise then, that we’re in the golden age of TV with Amazon, Sky and Netflix all now producing their own shows; so what better time to look at the humble sofa...

f you’ve looked lately you’ll know the wealth of choice is exhausting. With some priced not far off a small car, buying a sofa is an investment and one you’ll be living with for years, so it’s important not to buy just on looks. Let’s break it down to make sure the important factors are also in the mix, enabling you to shop with confidence and make an informed choice. Before looking at colours, styles or fabrics here’s a few gems worth thinking about; Function - sounds obvious, but being clear on the reason for buying from the outset will help in narrowing the search. Is it a sofa bed for guests, a kids sofa for gaming, to curl up reading, for socialising or mostly home cinema? Each has different priorities - high squidgy arms for reading, chaise or modular with footstool for home cinema, cheaper for kids or with stain guard, or a bigger long-term investment for adult socialising. Experience - note what you like / dislike about your existing sofa. Do you have to plump the cushions up every day, does it sag, mark easily, make the room small, is it actually comfortable? Identifying what does and doesn’t work will help to get the next one 36

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

exactly right. Comfort - naturally this is personal so really take time in showrooms to find the right comfort level for you. Be fussy and don’t be pressured into making a purchase just because a showroom has become your second home. Size - does my bum look big on this? Think about how many people you need to sit including the maximum if you host Christmas regularly. Proportion - yes, size matters. You’d think this was totally obvious, yet the biggest mistake I see is this one. Sofas that are way too big for the space and end up shoehorned in, making the room feel cluttered and small, or so big it wouldn’t go in the house on delivery. Painful disappointment we can all do without, especially if that sofa was special order… and non-returnable. Now I have your attention, right? Many companies (e.g. Love Your Home) will tweak their designs to fit, making them slightly shorter, longer or narrower. Style - there is no accounting for taste, however, if I had my way all the overdesigned, puffed up, ugly sofas would be banned! They’re not necessary to maximise

Polly Gibbs

Step inside

Polly Gibbs, Creative Director at Coco Design, shares her down to earth approach to interiors, from design secrets to trends and everything in between. comfort when so many stylish options exist. Don’t do it, they’re hideous. Keep it simple. Trends - bear in mind how long you will be living with the sofa and be careful of following trends. True style is knowing trends but going your own way anyway. That powder puff pink may be amazing today, but could be ghastly in three years. However, if the trend happens to be exactly what you’ve dreamed of then go for it - don’t spite yourself just because it’s trending and you feel you don’t want to be seen following the crowd. If it’s

right, it’s right. Budget - how much do you want to invest? Whatever your available spend, buy the best you can within that price bracket. For budget, Ikea is a great shout, for high-end try Natuzzi. George Smith offer classic luxe with quality you can trust given you’ll find them in high traffic establishments like The Ivy and Soho House, (George Smith now manufacture for it’s retail arm Soho Home). Ok, so you’ve cracked the essentials, now it’s time to look at detailed options. Nope, not the pretty stuff yet, the cushion filling, support and frame will determine comfort and ability to retain shape and stability. Construction: Cushions - broadly speaking there are three main types of fillings, none of which are better or worse, assuming good quality materials and build; Foam - good quality foam is firm and supportive making it a good choice for socialising or if you have back issues. Cushions spring

Step inside by Polly Gibbs

back requiring no plumping, just occasional turning, maintaining a crisp, tailored look. Note that cheaper foam sofas will lose volume and support more quickly. Fibre/Foam Wrap is a soft polyester wrapped around a foam core which provides good support with a softer top layer for a more gentle sit than full foam. Plump cushions occasionally to maintain the look. Great for gaming, home cinema or socialising. Feather, Down or Fibre Filled has a relaxed squidgy feel and much softer sit like marshmallow, perfect for curling up with a book or film. Look out for feathers etc held in cells to maintain an even spread. As with feather/down bed pillows the cushions will need plumping daily and turning weekly to restore the look. Down is the most expensive of feather and fibre options. Opt for memory foam or silicone if allergic to feathers. Support - again, quality here is important for the long term; Coil Sprung is similar to that in a mattress, offering comfort and a

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

high level of support. Pocket Springs are coils enveloped in individual fabric jackets offering maximum support and considered superior and longer lasting than coil spring. 8-way hand tied is a traditional method where the coils are hand tied to protect the fabric from the coils. Zig-Zag, Serpentine, Superloop, Sinuous spring construction offers different tensions using S-shaped rather than coil springs, giving a firmer sit. Fish mouth springs are similar to coil, but positioned facing out from the edge of the seat, opening and closing like a mouth as you sit/rise. Less expensive than a coil spring sofa, but gives strong front edge support. Webbing is the oldest way used for support, with runs of thick elastic in a grid. Usually used on cheaper sofas, though tensioners are used in combination in more expensive models. Frame - it goes without saying, the sturdier the better.

The best frames are heavy, made from kiln-dried hardwood (teak, birch or beech)to remove moisture. Non kiln-dried wood can shrink, crack and bend. Quality manufacturers will also give joints special attention as these take the strain, using dowels and screws or bolts, possibly with reinforcing blocks for extra strength. Try lifting a corner; too light and it’s not hardwood, if you lift a corner the nearest one should lift too, if not, the frame is bending and isn’t rigid enough. Design & Style Hoorah, at last, the fun bit, which I totally know was your starting point wasn’t it?! Colour, design and style are really important, but I want to make sure you really know what you’re buying first. By now your list of sofas should have reduced considerably as you’ve whittled down your comfort/construction preferences and checked the proportions, so let’s look at layout. Some rooms dictate the layout due to limited space or key features Continued on page 32

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Continued from page 31 like fireplace and door locations - on the bright side this makes life easy. However if your room presents numerous scenarios, imagine the space as a blank cube and position the furniture in ways you wouldn’t usually consider: two sofas facing each other or with backs to the garden for example, which may create a better social space and accommodate a couple of extra seats. Think about footstools, coffee or side tables, protruding plugs in sockets and where lighting will sit, especially if you like to read. When you’ve chosen a sofa double check the dimensions the room can comfortably take. If you have time to sketch it out, measure the room (noting door swings / windows / fixed position furniture) and scale down with a ruler, eg; 1m = 1cm. This really helps to play around, but I would also recommend marking out on the floor as a final check with newspaper, marking tape or your existing furniture. Walk around the space, taking account of the new sofa height too. Leave it laid out over a few days if you can, so you live with it before committing to the real deal. This could save you from huge disappointment and a costly mistake. Colour - this is a big subject in it’s own right, so I’m going to give a little bit of guidance here because this feature is really all about what lies beneath. Basically there are two options; bold sofa with neutral cushions to tone it down, or neutral sofa with bold cushions, rugs, accent chair or curtains to do the talking. If colour is your thing then be guided by this. If you think you’ll get bored quickly choose neutral so you

Step inside by Polly Gibbs

Lexington Sofa from Sofa Workshop can change the walls and accessories for a fresh look. Whichever way you go, just remember, if you’ve invested a lot of money you may not want to change your sofa this side of 5 years. Style - again, a huge subject that I’m going to simplify into classic, contemporary and modern, which pretty much covers all sofas. Classic styles are timeless so they won’t date, usually with rounded arms, curved back cushions and turned wood feet, often on castors. They look slightly old fashioned if you prefer contemporary, which is ultra modern with clean, simple, boxy lines and straight metal or wooden feet. Modern encompasses mid-century modern, think ‘Mad Men’. Sofas are

characterised by slim spindle legs usually in teak, a crisp silhouette and slender arms (Made.com offer sofas inspired by this style, try: Ritchie, Dylan or Scott). Modern also covers Scandi style, again, simple lines in a muted Nordic colour palette of tactile fabrics in cool grey, blue and white shades, and pretty much every other style of sofa (except the puffed up ugly ones that you’re not going to consider...are you). The UK’s best selling sofa fabric is a cotton/linen blend which looks beautiful on purchase but makes for a great cat scratching post, fades badly in sunlight, bobbles and isn’t suited to heavy usage - so not really best for a houseful of teenagers. Wool also pills and bobbles.

Leather is much more hardwearing and wipe clean. Full-Grain Pure Aniline Leather is the most authentic, luxurious and expensive option - soft, supple, with a rich natural texture that will gain natural charm as it wears. Full Grain SemiAniline is the same with a thin top coat to protect and give uniformity. Top-Grain leather refers to the hide being sanded off and a leather grain imprint applied for uniformity, note it does not indicate a premium product as is widely assumed. Split leather is harder and less robust. Bonded leather which is only 17% leather bonded with inferior liners should be avoided. (For luxury leather try Natuzzi). Not everyone is a fan of leather in which case look

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Step inside by Polly Gibbs

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Guarantee? Look for 5-10 years at least. Be aware of lead times. Generally these can be around 6-8 weeks for made-to-order, or longer for bespoke configurations. Note that your new sofa may not initially be as Access - can your sofa make it into the room? Check door widths and if in doubt speak with the comfy as that in the showroom, which has been supplier to make sure it can be delivered. worn in already. And lastly, don’t be afraid to take your time Limited access or smaller spaces? Look for sofas with low slender arms, low backs and and quiz the store on construction type, foam shallower depths to keep in proportion in smaller quality etc. The more you interrogate the sofa’s credentials, the more likely you are to make the spaces, or manoeuvre around tricky access obstacles. Feet will give an illusion of space right choice for you, not for the salesman! because more of the floor is visible (check they Further Tips: are removable for access). Source List Ask for the Martindale Rub Count - the higher love-your-home.co.uk the number the more durable the fabric. Fire Regulations - sofas (including footstools, georgesmith.com sohohome.com Check the seat depth and seat height to make scatter cushions and chairs) must comply with natuzzi.co.uk sure your feet touch the floor. If you’re heading regulations. Reputable high street manufacturers loaf.com into your twilight years this is more important to and suppliers should meet these requirements maintain easy mobility. as standard, indicated with a label fixed to the johnlewis.com sofaworkshop.com Leather sofas should be about 30cm away from furniture. Don’t remove the fire label as you’ll ikea.com radiators to avoid cracking. Check which leather need this should you wish to sell your sofa with is used. confidence when you next upgrade. Be careful l Polly is an award-winning designer, Decorex100 Sunlight will fade leather and fabrics - turning if buying old, vintage or second hand sofas that interiors influencer & Amara Interiors Blog Award cushions regularly will help slow fading. may have been manufactured pre-legislation. Finalist. Avoid ply/particleboard construction It’s not illegal to own them, but it is to include if you’ve got a rockin’ interior or design dilemma, especially if held together with staples, or make it in a rental property for example (ref: 1993 message her and it could feature in the next issue. sure it has at least 11-13 layers of plywood for amendments to The Furniture & Furnishings Fire Email: polly@coco-design.co.uk Website: www.curious-coco.com strengthening. Safety regulations 1988). Insta, Twitter, FB: @TheCuriousCoco Avoid polyurethane or Dacron-wrapped foam at mohair, which is having a real resurgence for its luxe lustre and robust yet tactile appeal (try George Smith and Soho Home). Also consider robust plains which are perfect for families, man-made velvets (ask for information on wear as velvet can bruise) and matt cottons with built in stain-guard, that are better suited to wear and tear (and jammy fingers). View samples at home in different lights (artificial and natural) as colours can vary significantly. Try Loaf, Sofa Workshop and John Lewis.

alone, which is the cheapest and won’t last long. Opt for high-density foam or Blendown pads which are Dacron wrapped in down.

‘Mark’s attention to details, such as the plate rack and bespoke drawer dividers, make everything a pleasure to look at and use.’ Unit 23, Kemps Farm, Chapel Road, Ford, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8XG Tel: 01296 706030 Mob: 07754 409203 Email: mark@ markwilliamsonfurniture.com Website: www.markwilliamsonfurniture.com Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

This year, the world-renowned AGA cooker celebrates its 95th birthday - and what better way to mark the event than with a visit to your friendly local AGA shop in Thame...

he AGA showroom in Thame features a comprehensive collection of the very latest AGA range cookers, with models to suit every home and every lifestyle, as well as a highly desirable selection of high performance cookware and kitchen accessories. Regardless of where and how you live, there’s an AGA for you. The newest models are designed for 21st century life, offering innovative, energy saving controllability while using the same radiant heat method to cook as traditional models, so ensuring great tasting food. The hugely versatile AGA Total Control provides ultimate flexibility and can save you up to 80% on running costs compared to some traditional AGA cookers. Using a clever touch-screen control panel, the ovens and the hotplates can be operated independently of each other and are on when you need them and off when you don’t. The AGA 60 offers the great cooking performance you would expect from AGA, but wrapped up in a smaller package. Just 60cm wide. It has two ovens offering roasting, baking and simmering functions and a versatile hotplate which can be set to boil or simmer, and a gas hob option with

40 2

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

four burners. Like the AGA Total Control, the ovens and hotplate can be operated independently. With the AGA Dual Control the ovens are always on, but the hotplates can be turned on and off individually as you need them, saving on energy and fuel bills while also allowing you to enjoy the unique AGA warmth, all day long. For owners of older AGA cookers, trade-in offers are available. So if you’re looking to update your cooker it’s well worth speaking to the team at AGA Thame. AGA cookers are available in up to 11 gorgeous colours - from the traditional cream through to some stunningly bold shades - as well as a number of classic and contemporary neutrals. An AGA demonstration offers a fantastic way to learn more about the world’s bestloved cooker. You’ll learn lots of AGA cooking techniques and tried-and-tested tips on how to get the very best from your model. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy sampling some of the delicious food cooked on the day. And on Saturday September 30th from 10am-4pm the Thame showroom is hosting a special free-to-attend autumn event set to be perfect both for those new to AGA cooking and more experienced owners. Among the highlights of the day will be refreshments, canapés and mini AGA cooking demonstrations, a free AGA gift with all cooker orders placed on the day

and advice and tips on the day from AGA Cookery Doctor Richard Maggs and AGA demonstrator Dawn Roads. Artist Cathryn Lucy Bellew will also be painting through the day in the store and taking commissions for new artwork. For more information on her work, visit: www.lucysstudio.co.uk

AGA Thame is at 10 Upper High Street, Thame OX9 3ER. To speak to a member of the team, call 01844 214214. For more on the AGA range cooker collection, visit www. agaliving.com l AGA Thame, 10 Upper High Street, Thame Oxfordshire, OX9 3ER. Tel: 01844 214214 Email: Thame@agarangemaster.co.uk Web: www.agaliving.com

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: Tech spec with Andrew Marshall

Need an assistant? LEASE CHECK THIS PROOF CAREFULLY,

f the pundits are to be believed, the age of smartphones and apps is coming to an end. What will take over? The answer is Speech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants. Smart phones and computers have had forms of digital assistants for some time (Cortana for Windows, Siri for Apple, Google Assistant for Android). These systems have expanded into the home, with the two big players being Amazon Echo and Google Home. Apple has recently announced the HomePod speaker, incorporating Siri, for $349, but it won’t be available in the UK until 2018. Echo comes in two versions, the Echo £149, and Echo Dot £49. You have to use the Alexa smartphone app to perform configuration, but once complete, it is always listening - waiting for you to say the wake

‘Hey Google’.

ARTICULARLY PHONE NUMBERS AND So how well do they work? A recent survey by 360i tested OUR EMAIL ADDRESS each system with 3000 questions

and found that Google Home was 6 times more likely to give you a correct answer than Amazon Echo. To play music, requires a subscription, either to Amazon Music, Google Play Music word. By default this is ‘Alexa’, but or Spotify. Both also support for trekkies, it will also recognise TuneIn for Digital Radio. I was ‘Computer’. disappointed to find that neither Google Home, £129, was would support my local digital launched later. Setup again requires music library. you to use the Home app. One Both will control your Phillip current advantage Google Home Hue lights, as well as other, but not has over Alexa is that it can be all, Smart Home Appliances. configured to support multiple user Oddly Amazon Echo is better at voices. Up to 6 different people integrating to Google services than can be recognised by the device. Google is; Echo can add entries This allows for individual calendars, to your Google Calendar, Google music playlists etc to be used. Home cannot. It is not possible to change the Google is fully integrated with wake word, only ‘OK Google’ or Chromecast so you can ask it to

tel. 07712816 tel. Marshall 075000482 Andrew Tech spec web. www.chilternd play videos, whereas Echo cannot control Fire TV products. Amazon also has the edge in integration with over 15000 “skills” providing additional capabilities. Google is a bit further behind with their “actions”. It is still early days for both products, with updates appearing constantly. At this point, Amazon has the edge but I don’t think this will last much longer. “Hey Google, what do you think?” l Software and technology expert Andrew Marshall is Founder of Digitwell Solutions Ltd, a mobile application development company. He can be contacted on: enquiries@digitwell.co.uk or via twitter: @DigitwellApps www. digitwell.co.uk

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Finally there is a real alternative to timber windows.

A fully stocked showroom including Solidor

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Omega Homestyle has over 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience of designing and fitting premium doors, windows and conservatories We firmly believe that by keeping the entire process as stress free as possible, we are adding to your enjoyment of your new windows, doors and conservatories. For an individually tailored service and to find out exactly what we can do for you please contact us or come and visit our newly refurbished showroom. Omega Homestyle, Woodway Farm Industrial Estate, Bicester Road, Long Crendon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 9EP Tel: 01844

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: Safe as houses with Nigel Grace

Do I stay or do I go?

here I live I am noisy. is available on the days that the surrounded by building Your non-essential possessions builder needs him. work, by 8am most will need to be packed away. Want Not only that but the plasterer mornings every legal to watch the TV? Then you will will charge a higher rate as he has (and some illegal) parking spots need to dust it down, you may to keep coming to the site, set up, have been taken up by builder’s lose hot water for a period or do the work required, clean up and vans or delivery lorries. even worse not able to flush your then pack everything away only to It seems every week another toilet while new drains are being do the same thing the following project starts (at the time of connected! week. writing work is due to start It may surprise you that it could A project that could take 25-30 •Expert Advice imminently at our house too) as be cheaper for you to move out! weeks if you were living in the more people are choosing to stay When builders•Professional are busy they areFitting house may only take around 16 put and improve their current home keen to start a job, finish it and weeks if you moved out. For some Competitive rather than to move. move on to the•Very next one. They like that alone is worth the hassle of What has surprised me most is to work efficiently having an and moving out. forand Residential that there are four houses near empty house can let them do that. Some people revel in living in Commercial work mine that are having large two Most trades look for continuity of their house whilst building work storey extensions and in all four, work on a project. You mayto have to allis undertaken. Cooking on a gas •Carpets suit the homeowners have moved out replaster six rooms of your house. camping stove or in a microwave, Budgets and have handed over their homes If you were living in the house and having to go to the local gym or to their builders and chosen to live the builder was•Free havingQuotes to work swimming pool to have a proper somewhere else whilst the work is around you then it is likely he will shower! Obligation undertaken. have to do one•No room at a time. He If space permits then some On some projects, due to the will have to call his plasterer in for people chose to live in a caravan in •Free Parking amount of work being done, it is one day to plaster a room, then call the garden or on the drive! almost inevitable that you will have him back another time for the next One clear advantage of living in to move out, but why are people room and so on and so on. your house is that you are always CARPETS • VINYLS So • SISAL RODS choosing to move out when they instead •ofSTAIR taking six days to there for the builder. If there is a could stay put? plaster the house it could take six problem or a decision needs to be SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES Building is disruptive, dusty and weeks and that is if the plasterer made you will be there.

Charles Huntington Flooring

Nigel Grace

Safe as houses

You will also be on hand to keep a close eye on the progress and the quality of the work. If you are looking to carry out major work to your house then before you get quotes from builders have a think about whether you can •Expert Advice or want to stay put. Look at options about where •Professional Fitting you can stay (remember if you are looking to rent another house the •Very Competitive shortestfor rental period is usually Residential and 6 months), could you stay with family locally?Commercial work What would I do haveall spent •Carpets to- Isuit most of my working life working Budgets on building sites and I don’t really want •Free to live inQuotes one, so I would move out!

Charles Huntington Flooring

Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment

•No Obligation

l Nigel Grace is an experienced •Free Parking chartered quantity surveyor. For help and advice contact him on: nigel@nigelgracelimited.co.uk

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•Professional Fitting Tel: 01296 337181 Mob: 07767370067 •Very Competitive Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Tel: 01296 Mob: 07767370067 for337181 Residential and 23 DUCK FARM COURT, STATION WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Commercial work DUCK FARM COURT, STATIONvinyl, WAY, AYLESBURY, HP20 2SQ WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ON QUALITY OR SERVICE l Independent, family run carpet l Carpet, sisal, coir, hardwood l Extensive range of23traditional Charles Huntington Flooring to suit all and flooring specialists l Exclusive suppliers of Roger Oates and contemporary flooring •Carpets Charles Huntington Flooring Charles Huntington Flooring WEcan WILL NOT BE BEATENyet ON hard-wearing QUALITY OR SERVICE •Expert Advice Charles Huntington Flooring beautiful runners l Expert fitting service at competitive prices - we Budgets and rugs in our local area l Domestic and commercial match or better your quote •Expert Advice Charles Flooring Providing adviceHuntington and installations •Expert Advice •Expert Advice•Free •Professional Fitting Advice to private customers, professionals and •Professional Fitting Quotes•Expert •Expert AdviceFitting •Professional •Professional Fitting contractors for over 25 years •Professional Fitting •Very Competitive •No Obligation •Professional Fitting for Residential and •Very Competitive •Very Competitive •Very Competitive •Very Competitive Extensive experience with Commercial work for Residential and Residential and for Residential•Free and •Very Competitive Parking for thatched, heritage and listed buildings. Commercial work for Residentialwork and Commercial Commercial work E

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Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment

G • GU

for Residential •Carpets to suit and all Commercial work •Carpets to suit all Budgets Opening Times: Monday to Friday •10am 5pm CARPETS VINYLSuntil • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS Saturday • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS CARPETS • VINYLS SISAL • Any STAIRother RODS SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES until•RODS 4pm. time•Free by appointment CARPETS • VINYLS • 10am SISAL & • STAIR SAFETY FLOORING • WOODQuotes • BINDING TAPES Stoves, Installations Servicing SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES SAFETY FLOORING • WOOD • BINDING TAPES SAFETY FLOORINGTel: • WOOD • BINDING TAPES Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm 01296 337181 Mob: 07767370067 Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm •No Obligation Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10am until 5pm Opening Times: Monday to Friday 10aminfo@northmillstoves.co.uk until 5pm Opening Times: MondayBucks to Friday until 5pm North Mill Road Bledlow HP2710am 9QP 01844 342400 www.northmillstoves.co.uk Saturday 10am until 4pm. Any other time by appointment Web: www.charleshuntington.co.uk Saturday 4pm. Any by appointment Saturday until time 4pm. Any other time Tel: by appointment 07767370067 Saturday10am 10amuntil until 4pm.10am Any other other time by appointment Tel:01296 01296 337181 337181 Mob: Mob: 07767370067 Tel: 337181 Mob:337181 07767370067 Tel: 01296 Mob: 07767370067 Web: •FreeHP20 Parking Tel:01296 0129623 337181 Web:www.charleshuntington.co.uk www.charleshuntington.co.uk DUCK Mob: FARM07767370067 COURT, STATION WAY, AYLESBURY, 2SQ Unrivalled customer service through the commitment of our family team.

Commercial work •Carpets Budgetsto suit all •Carpets to suit all •Carpets to suit all Budgets •Carpets to suit all Budgets Budgets •Free Quotes CARPETS • VINYLS • SISAL • STAIR RODS Budgets Oxfordshire • Buckinghamshire • •Free Quotes •Free Quotes •Free Quotes •No Obligation Hertfordshire • Berkshire • and beyond •Free Quotes •No SAFETY FLOORING • •No WOOD • BINDING TAPES •No Obligation Obligation •FreeObligation Parking •No Obligation •Free Parking Contact us to book your free home THE BEST IN home •Free Parking •Free Parking survey or to visit our showroom to see •Free Parking the stoves in action.

comforts Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

‘The Art of Wood Burning’

JØtul “fighting the cold since 1853”

The most comprehensive showroom in Oxfordshire Over 75 stoves and 15 under fire on display Kiln dried and Eco logs

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HETAS registered. Ample free parking. Boundary Business Park, Wheatley Road, Garsington, OX44 9EJ Showroom open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-1pm For technical advice it is advisable to make an appointment

01865 361505 www.manorhousestoves.co.uk Featured stoves from JØtul 46

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Smart living

At the Sky House Design Centre you’ll find some of the most exciting and innovative home and garden design brands. From flooring to fires, worktops to windows a collection of top quality products, services and suppliers, ideas and inspiration...

mart technology is making life easier by handling practical aspects of daily life in all sorts of areas these days. In the ultimate Smart home for instance, it is now possible to integrate and control lighting, appliances, heating and cooling, security, television, home cinema, multi-room audio, CCTV and other systems as a single network, with all controls in one easy to manage app on your chosen smart device. Amersham based indigozest, a family business run by Nicolai Landschultz and his wife Chhaya, specialises in smart home technology for the modern dwelling. CEDIA certified Technology Professional Nicolai combines a passion for useful technology with more than twenty years experience as a Home Technology Professional. He has a wealth of technical knowledge, IT experience and strong project management skills, while his Danish heritage adds simplicity, minimalism and functionality to all his design solutions, ensuring a hygge experience for clients. “I have always been interested in technology,” says Nicolai. “I think I was about 12 years old when I soldered my first dimmer switch! I used to work in IT for a banking firm and automated my home in my spare time, just for fun. To me ‘smart home’, ‘home automation’ or ‘smart living’ is about integrating technology in the home to make things simpler, yet working smarter at the same time. It’s a fascinating and fast developing field and I am constantly sourcing, challenging and testing new products for my clients.

Smart lighting

“I set up indigozest in 2010, to create a business from my passion. We offer a complete service from the bespoke design of a Smart system for a client’s home, to

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Integrated control

Nicolai Landschultz

the specification and supply, overseeing of the installation and then the programming, commissioning and handover, finishing with ongoing aftercare and support. “Each of our clients has different requirements, preferences and priorities so taking the time to understand exactly what you’re after means we’re always able to suggest the right bespoke solutions. Our design process includes full specifications, layouts and options for future planning. “We can cater for retro-fits, but the amount of wiring that has to go in means it is more efficient to install a smart system during a rebuild or refurbishment, when walls and floors are exposed. “Sometimes a customer might just want a lighting or home entertainment system installed and we are happy to help, but a lot of our customers come to us because of the range of automation we cater for. We can do the lighting and heating and the security and

Smart entertainment

the home entertainment system... you don’t need to call in separate companies for the different technologies. And why the name indigozest? Nicolai explains: “The zest part is a zest for life, action and energy, while the indigo is cool, calm and controlled.” For a smart home system that allows you to be in control of your home, even while out and about enjoying life, contact indigozest as below. l indigozest, Sky House Design Centre, Raans Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 6JQ T: 01494 722880 / 01923 883979 E: info@indigozest.co.uk W: www.indigozest.co.uk Make an appointment to visit the Sky House Design Centre - Tel: 01494 722880 Web: www.skyhousedesigncentre.com Mon-Fri, 9am to 5:30pm; Sat, 9am to 3pm Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

53 47

Let’s go for a picnic! Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Real Living

by Charlotte Bolton

Summer Holiday Style Updates - the perfect picnic...

his summer holiday, why not take time out to find a local countryside spot (we’re lucky enough have some beautiful rolling vistas in the Vale of Aylesbury) or head for the heart of town, and enjoy the fun of a picnic. A picnic is the perfect excuse to go out and enjoy the great British summer. It’s also a brilliant way to keep the kids occupied in the holidays whilst also encouraging them to take in some fresh air. So, get your blankets and baskets out and head for an al fresco exploration - or if you don’t want to venture too far, turn your garden into a picnic area!

Real Living

Charlotte Bolton

Picnic spot - College Lakes, Tring

Picnic hints and tips…

• Bring along plastic bags to take home dirty plates/cutlery you might want to keep - or any rubbish - in case there aren’t any bins in the picnic area.

• Consider packing two carriers - a picnic basket for tableware and general equipment and a cool box for food and cold drinks.

Find funky picnicware (dine in style!) Pack up your feast in a stylish hamper or cool bag - or impress your guests with a co-ordinated picnic set. Choose practical (but pretty!) tableware in the shape of plates, cutlery and cups/glasses. Kit yourself out with all the essentials, but don’t forget to treat yourself to a few added extras such as hanging decorations and lanterns to style up your picnic pitch. If you don’t want to venture too far, you could turn your decking into a cosy outdoor eating space where you can enjoy dining al fresco for the whole summer - plus you can easily go in if it rains!

• To make it easy to get at the items you need when you arrive at your picnic area, pack your basket in reverse order. Place nonperishable food at the bottom, then the cold food and tableware, and finally the tablecloth on top. • No basket? No worries! Load your goodies into a sturdy cardboard box or a backpack. • If you’re feeding lots of people, Dress up your picnic area! bring two cool boxes. One for frequently used items such as cold be kept very drinks - the other for chilled foods like meats cold or very and salads. hot, perishable leftovers • Try to estimate how much food your group should be will eat to avoid leftovers. Unless they can thrown away.

Funky picnicware

Organise your own picnic fun Turn your picnic spot Continued on page 44

Take these picnic essentials: keep hold of this handy checklist to make sure you’re fully prepared for your day out: Picnic blanket Easy to eat foods (mostly finger foods) Condiments in small plastic containers Re-sealable containers for leftover food Hamper or cool bags to store food and drinks Paper plates / Paper napkins / Plastic cutlery 48

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Utensils, if needed Cutting board and knife Bottle opener/corkscrew Bin bags Wet wipes and sanitiser Games and activities

Umbrellas/parasol Floor – cushions and lightweight deckchairs Camera Portable speakers Hats and sunglasses Sun cream and insect repellent

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Real Living

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Continued from page 42 into a cosy den where you can unwind for hours. Bring along some fun games such as Giant Twister or Dominoes for the adults to play as well as the kids! Hang up sheets or canvas to create a shaded area from the sun and add comfort with cushions and blankets. Try and use waterproof materials to avoid damage from damp grass. If you wanted to go all out, get the kids involved and build a tepee using logs found in the woods and Put up a Teepee! cover with fabric. If you’re going to the seaside, take sand. Take a sun umbrella for shade a large cool box if you have one, as if it’s going to be very warm. this can double-up as a small table to help keep food away from the Find a fabulous, local picnic spot (Check with venue for opening Seaside picnic times, facilities etc)

Vale Park, Aylesbury Town Centre, Bucks www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/vale-park Wendover Woods, Wendover, Bucks www.forestry.gov.uk/wendoverwoods Waddesdon Manor, Waddesdon, Bucks www.waddesdon.org.uk

by Charlotte Bolton College Lake Nature Reserve, Tring, Herts www.bbowt.org.uk/college-lake/ about-college-lake Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted, Herts www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ ashridge-estate Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Estate, Beds www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

dunstable-downs-and-whipsnadeestate Rushmere Country Park, Heath & Reach, Beds www.greensandtrust.org/RushSites l To find out how your home could be featured in a UK homes magazine visit Charlotte’s website: www.reallivingspaces.co.uk. Share your home interior ideas in a magazine! It’s fun, and free!

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Do you live, work or have close family living in the Aylesbury Vale District? Do you live, work or have close family living in the Aylesbury Vale District? You could be eligible to move in to a brand new home, in the District, this Summer. You could be eligible to move in to a brand new home, in the District, this Summer. Over the next two years, Hightown Homes are building affordable one, two Over the next two years, Hightown Homes are building affordable one, two and three bedroom homes in the District, including Tingewick Road, Buckingham, and three bedroom homes in the District, including Tingewick Road, Buckingham, available for Shared Ownership sale. available for Shared Ownership sale. Tingewick Road offers 2 & 3 bedroom, semi-detached houses with contemporary Tingewick Road offers 2 & 3 bedroom, semi-detached houses with contemporary kitchens, private gardens and parking. kitchens, private gardens and parking.

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

l Column ‘In the Garden’ with

Naomi MacKay

A little night gardening G

ardens can be appreciated once the sun goes down - as long as you choose the right flowers, Naomi MacKay discovers... It was on a hot weekend’s camping in Henley, a few weeks ago, that I first started to think about moon gardening. I was walking back to the tent - it was dark but the moon was bright - and I noticed how much the white daisies in the grass showed up. In fact they were far more noticeable than they were in the daytime. And I started to think about what other flowers would really show up in the moonlight, After a bit of digging round I discovered that ‘Moon Gardening’ is actually a ‘thing’! I’m not talking about gardening by the lunar phases - some people believe that if you sow seeds just before a full moon they will thrive better than

Moonflower - Ipomea Alba days are shorter so you won’t have to wait until midnight to get the effect! Plants that will reflect the

Fejun: Glamping Midsommar planting at other times. I’m not sure about that. No, I’m talking about designing a garden with plants that stand out by the light of the moon, with white flowers and silvery leaves that reflect the lunar light. So what should you start

Petrol ride-on lawnmower

with? Well you may not want to dedicate your whole garden to moonlit displays - but you could perhaps concentrate on a border by your patio, so that you can sit out on a warm summer’s night and appreciate the effect. Late summer/autumn is ideal as the

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moon’s light are those with chalky, silver-blue leaves, - think melianthus and eucalyptus. Variegated hostas and silver artemisia are also ideal. Next, some flowering plants - you need a good collection of blooms together - one white flowerhead on its own is not going to show up. You need the kind of plants that are covered in bright petals - think Sweet alyssum

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A rose by night (Lobularia maritima) and white clematis varieties. Continued on page 48

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

l Column ‘In the Garden’ with

Primrose Brugmansia white Angel’s Trumpet Continued from page 47 There are also plants whose flowers open up during the evening, such as Evening Primrose, Brugmansia or Angel’s Trumpet, and the aptly named Moonflower or Moon Vine Ipomoea Alba - fast-growing vines with huge white flowers, which are easy to cultivate and bloom from july to September. It’s also good to have some luscious scent to enjoy while you’re sitting outside enjoying the view. Jasmine, Honeysuckle and Evening Primrose, which I’ve already

White gravel and white flowers catch the moonlight mentioned, are ideal. Nicotiana Sylvestris is another - as well as having deliciously scented flowers, it will also attract night-pollinating moths. If you have children (or even if not!) moth spotting can be great fun. Google ‘make a moth trap’ and download a spotting sheet from www.wildlifewatch.org.uk so you can identify your new friends! Finally, how about painting some large pebbles or cobbles white, to reflect the moon - or you could hang some subtle, solar-powered fairy lights to add some gentle

Naomi MacKay

Cotton Candy illumination - nothing too bright though - the moon is the star of this show! Sweet treats Hydrangeas are such reliable contributors to a garden, and I love their huge mopheads, which always remind me of the Hydrangea bush we had at home in our back garden when I was growing up. Here’s two sweet varieties from Bransford Webbs’ Flair and Flavours range that should be in your garden centre this summer: Sweet Marshmallow, a beautiful

Sweet Marshmallow blue-coloured mophead; and Cotton Candy, which has masses of the more delicate lace cap flowers - pink with a yellow heart. The foliage adds some autumn colour as it changes from green to red. Delicious! l Naomi MacKay is a Bucks-based

freelance writer and editor who specialises in gardens. She also helps small businesses get their message to potential clients using websites, blogs, social media and more traditional printed products. Email: naomimackay@gmail.com

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Summer season at Green Dragon

ummertime at Green Dragon is when we make the most of our great outdoors! We have 45 acres of gently rolling Aylesbury Vale countryside laid out as paddocks, meadows and trails where visitors can stretch their legs, take in the view or just relax and enjoy the natural environment. And for the inquisitive, there’ll be a variety of themed, educational and fun experiences and activities all through the school holidays, including ‘Farmer for a Day’, which is a half day farm experience for children. NEW - Pets’ Corner Refurb and Pygmy Goat Walk-Through We’ve introduced more exotic pets to our refurbished Pets’ Corner, unusual pets such as: snakes, stick-insects, lizards, tarantulas, scorpions, cockroaches and poisondart frogs! Our programme of encounters provides fun, engaging,

and informative interaction with these newbies and of course our usual residents! The ferret and chinchilla enclosures have had an up-grade too and we’ve introduced some new baby barn owls into the large aviary! The Pygmy Goat Walk-Through is a special enclosure for our Pygmy goat herd where visitors can get up close and personal with the goats. Mr Tumnus, our billy, is a real character and the three nannies and their babies love attention. And they never say no to goat feed which you can buy at Reception! Nature Trail and Wildflower Meadow - Our Nature Trail is a mile long and follows the perimeter of the site. En route is our wildflower meadow, which includes the Butterfly Trail, now in its second year and jam-packed with wildflowers. With the new trees and hedging we planted earlier in the year, more habitat has been created

Bearded Dragon Pygmy goat

Bird watching breeding programme on the go which as well as conserving these rare breeds for the future, produces meat for our cafés. And our Walled Garden is bursting with fruit and veg which also finds its way on to our menus, ensuring that our food offering is seasonal and freshly prepared, wherever possible.

for wildlife so keep your eyes peeled as you walk and if you’re feeling adventurous, pick up one of our Dragon Explorer Backpacks from Reception which include instructions and equipment to help you get the most out of the trail! Farm to Fork - Another trail is our shorter Farm to Fork Trail which meanders through the paddocks where we keep our rare breed farm animals. We have a

Vale Life Magazine Reader Offer! Free Adult Pass* with every two paying children during August (cut out and present this voucher). *One free Adult Pass per family/group. Not to

be used in conjunction with any other offer.

l The Green Dragon Eco Farm, Farm Park, Play Centre & Eaterie, Claydon Road, Hogshaw, Bucks, MK18 3LA Tel: 01296 670444 www.greendragonecofarm.co.uk Open daily 10am-5.30pm

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Community Matters Every month we give our time and money to local communities. We donate £1000 to be shared by three good causes that you choose.

Waitrose Thame Supporting the community Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Feed raw for a healthy, active dog

A Cotswold RAW complete diet brings you all the health benefits of a fresh and natural raw diet, in the convenient form of traditional mince and easy to handle sausages.

Cotswold RAW is available from your local store: McGrumpy & Snuffles Duck Farm Court, Aylesbury, HP20 2SQ 01296 426102 Widmer Feeds & Country Store Pink Road, Lacey Green, HP27 0PG 01844 344765 JRG Animal Services 16 Parton Rd, Aylesbury, HP20 1NG 01296 422619 Pet Care Thame 15 Cornmarket, Thame, OX9 2BL 01844 213710

Available in various ranges for every stage in your dog’s life. Choose from chicken, beef, lamb, turkey and beef with tripe.

‘NEW TO STORE’ OFFER Buy 2kg of Cotswold RAW and get 1 FREE pack of treats worth £2.45 New to store offer - for limited time only. 56

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Muddy Paws Unit 7, Canalside, North Bridge Road, Berkhampstead, HP4 1EG 01442 866558

Column: Lucy Ellis ‘Animal Magic’

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Pawfect companions D

ogs are so integrated into family life that planning a holiday without them seems wrong, yet some owners can find it daunting to travel with their pets. We’ve taken the stress out of any pet-related issues in this blog so your whole family can travel with you this summer. One of the biggest concerns is how to take and store enough food for a week or fortnight’s break, without it taking over the whole car, tent or caravan! Depending on what you currently feed your dog, Unique Pets staff are happy to advise. If you’re a raw feeder we can pre-pack your order in a free polystyrene box and put it in our deep freeze to keep it cool for the journey and the first couple of days. It shouldn’t be hard to find a local stockist of something similar where you’re staying (try googling the area before you go. If you go abroad try the local supermarket many French ones have a selection of “viande pour animaux” (fresh

Part of the family meat suitable for animals). Alternately take freeze-dried, wet or dry options which are as close to raw as you can get without the need for refrigeration. Coldpressed and freeze-dried complete meals are more nutritionally dense than conventionally cooked food, so you need less per day, thus saving you weight and space. Like humans, some dogs don’t feel well in the car, but it’s important to understand the underlying cause in order to get the right treatment. If your dog finds travelling a stressful activity and pants, barks or refuses to settle,

there are a variety of natural remedies to help calm her down. Products based on valerian, a natural treatment for anxiety, can be bought as a liquid to put direct into your dog’s mouth, food or water, as tablets, or in a spray to apply to any bedding, clothing or the car seat. On the other hand, if your dog gets motion sick and is actually vomiting as a result of a car journey, then you might be better off using a homeopathic anti-nausea and calming liquid on food or in her water to help settle her upset tummy. It’s also advisable to have fresh water on hand to help keep your dog cool on a long journey. There are a wide range of travel bottles and portable bowls that will suit your needs. Dogs thrive on routine, but holidays tend to buck normal regimes, so it’s a good idea to take familiar items such as a favourite toy or blanket along with their own food and water bowls to help settle your pet into their

Lucy Ellis

Animal Magic new environment. Giving them a dedicated quiet space can also provide them with a safe place. If you don’t have room to take your dog’s bed with you, then try buying a piece of vet bed - it rolls up to take minimal boot space, but flattens out to give your dog some home comfort. All these travel products, along with knowledgeable advice is available at Unique Pets. Come in to our Winslow or Aylesbury stores to find out how we can help you and your pet enjoy your holiday together. l Lucy Ellis is a writer and blogger who

with Jenna Tomlins runs Unique Pets (Aylesbury & Winslow), independent pet shops offering individual pet advice, grooming, dog training and pet photography. www.uniquepets.co.uk

Aylesbury 01296 706403 Winslow 01296 715697 www.uniquepets.co.uk Chamberlain Road, Aylesbury / High Street, Winslow

Top quality food & accessories for all your pets, from dogs, cats and horses to rabbits, wild birds, small mammals, chickens, fish and reptiles. Expert advice, tailored feeding plans, puppy socialising, dog training classes, pet photo studio, professional dog grooming and pampering service...

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01296 706403

T: 07745 779989 E: woof@uptownpets.co.uk www.uptownpets.co.uk

Dog grooming in Haddenham T: 07745 779989 E: woof@uptownpets.co.uk www.uptownpets.co.uk

T: 07745 779989 E: woof@uptownpets.co.uk

House and Pet Sitting T: 07745 779989 T: 07745 779989 service offeredE: woof@uptownpets.co.uk E: woof@uptownpet by mature couple www.uptownpets.co www.uptownpets.co.uk Availability from September onwards References available DPS certificate Contact Tina on: 0151 641 9247 Email: tljbunker@gmx.com

Call 01296 706403 or pop into shop to book your grooming appointment Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Music Column:

Turn it up! with Paul Adams

Our music columnist is Paul Adams - musician and performer, who can be seen in venues across our area both solo and with A Little Bit Country. Contact Paul with local gigs and music news at: paul@mrpauladams.co.uk Add your gigs to our website what’s on diary for free at: www.vale-life.co.uk

Live Music August 17th Al Jenkins: Dukes Wine Bar,

Princes Risborough

18th Rick King:

Ex-services Club, Aylesbury

19th The Observers:

The Queens Head, Aylesbury

19th Skamungas: Astonbury Festival,

Aston Clinton

20th Gary Roman as Elvis

The Chequers, Wheeler End

25th Ray Steele Experience:

The Legion Club, Wendover

25th-27th Towersey Festival: Thame Showground

26th-27th Parklife Weekend

Vale Park, Aylesbury

27th A Little Bit Country, Andy

Robbins & more: Towersey

Fringe Festival, Towersey

28th David Bekhaert: The Chandos

Arms, Weston Turville

September 1st Rockbone: The Black Horse, Tring 2nd Dealey Plaza:

Shoot Live, Aylesbury

4th Big Band Swing: George &

Dragon, Princes Risborough

5th Sandy Lenny:

Bledlow Village Cricket Club

8th NBS: The Aristocrat, Aylesbury 9th Dodging Bullets:

Victoria Club, Aylesbury

16th Richie:

Westcott Sports & Social Club

24th Smooth Operator:

Anglers Retreat, Marsworth

30th: The 2 Strokes:

The Weavers Arms, Aylesbury

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

arklife Weekend makes an exciting return to Vale Park over August Bank Holiday weekend. Those long sunny days will be with us before you know it! Aylesbury Town Council, along with its partners, will be bringing you a weekend filled with a huge array of music and family entertainment – creating a mini-free-festival right in the centre of Aylesbury for you to enjoy with family and friends. The weekend starts at 12noon on Saturday 26th August with Live in the Park from 12noon to 9.30pm and headlining this fabulous free extravaganza are The Bon Jovi

Experience, who are credited by Jon Bon Jovi himself as “The best Bon Jovi tribute act”! 2017 sees the introduction of the Sportif Citroën Second Stage, positioned alongside the main stage, enabling more performance time for a wide variety of local and original artists. On this stage you can expect to see Lucy Mair, Ed Cusick,

Lauren James Ray, Billy Watman, Raving Wild, A Little Bit Country, and Callow Saints. The main stage will host a broad range of styles and genres, kicking off at 12noon with an energetic mix of classic pop and rock covers from NBS to get you up and moving. They will be followed by Eton Rivals - a unique blend of punk, mod and ska; rock and pop from Gravity Blue and Michael Lee and a sprinkling of Rockabilly from The Nightshades, all topped off with a little Big Band Swing. l www.aylesburytowncouncil.gov. uk/event/parklife-weekend/

Ellie’s back for Chilli fest E

llie Richmond is a 14 year old singer/songwriter from Aylesbury who started performing aged only 10 years old! “My dad had a studio and there were always musicians in the house,” she says. “I loved Ellie Richmond listening to them and started to teach myself guitar. I’ve been singing since I was seven.”

Ellie cites Ed Sheeran and Adele as influences and ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran as her favourite cover to perform. “My favourite original at the moment is a song called ‘Survivor’,” she says. “It’s my latest song and probably my most honest one. “My favourite gig so far has to be Chilli Fest 2016. I loved it and I’m delighted they have asked me

NBS Exclusive

BS are a popular act in Aylesbury but there’s only one place you’ll be seeing them in future - The Aristocrat. The band played at the newly refurbished venue recently and were blown away: “What a venue! It’s cocktail bar plush, has a great stage, a really great and friendly audience, who just want to dance and have fun, brilliant bar staff, and managers Anna and Nick are lovely people with a great vision to make it the top music venue in Bucks! We like them and they like us, so we have agreed The Aristocrat will be the only place NBS will play in Aylesbury! We’ll be back regularly through the year, but if you want a great night out in a brilliant music venue, you can be sure of a good time at The Aristocrat live music nights any Friday or Saturday, as their standard for bands is very high.” NBS return to The Aristocrat on September 8th. For more on NBS visit: www.nbsband.co.uk For more on the Aristocrat see: www.facebook.com/pg/ aristocrattoday

NBS

back to perform again this year, both days in fact!” Ellie is aiming to carve out a career for herself as a singer/ songwriter and performer and you can catch her live locally, at The Waddesdon Manor Chilli Festival on 2nd and 3rd of September. Meanwhile checkout her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ ellierichmondmusic

Column: Showtime! with Shaun Nolan

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Those Summer Nights…

t’s getting cool for the summer and the one thing that happens every year is that new theatre shows tend to not open; it’s sad, but true! The month of August is the quietest when it comes to press nights and new openings in the West End and in the Vale, but that doesn’t mean that there are no new shows opening up at all… In fact there are two at the Court Theatre later this Summer. The first is the KatsAct production of Willy Russell’s classic play Blood Brothers (19th-21stAugust). I fell in love with this play when I read it many years ago because the older drama students were loving it and I liked the musical too, but this original play is full of grit and heart-wrenching drama. It follows the story of Mrs Johnstone, a woman who has to make her own kind of ‘Sophie’s Choice’after giving birth to twin boys. It’s a harrowing story of family, love and the class system and a play I would strongly recommend you see. If you want a musical to fall in love with, look no further than

Shaun Nolan Showtime!

Five Guys Named Moe

Tring Festival Company’s 2017 Youth Production of Spring Awakening which runs at the Court Theatre from September 5th-9th. Based on the German play by Frank Wedekind from 1891, this controversial musical adaptation follows the story of a group of German teenagers discovering themselves and trying to grow up in that society. The story is gutpunching and the rock-style score by Duncan Sheikh is electric. And if I haven’t persuaded you enough, the show bagged eight Tony Awards on Broadway and four Olivier Awards in London, including

the Best Musical prize at both ceremonies. Talking of Tony and Olivier Award-winning Best Musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic Evita is back in London’s West End until October 14th at the Phoenix Theatre with Wicked alum Emma Hatton in the title role. This show is one of my favourite musicals of all time and this production – which I have already seen three times – is sublime. Lloyd Webber will also be taking over the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre with another Tony and Olivier-winning Best Musical Jesus Christ Superstar

making its return after winning the Olivier for Best Musical Revival at the venue last year. I can’t wait! Finally, August 29th sees the opening of not only a new show but also a new theatre! A major revival of the cult-classic musical Five Guys Named Moe opens at the new Marble Arch Theatre as an immersive musical experience… it’s one that I can’t explain in words, but give it a Google search: it looks amazing and I can’t wait to see the show for myself in September. l Shaun Nolan is a London theatre blogger who not only writes for himself but also a variety of other publications including LondonTheatreDirect. You can find him at @shaunycat on Twitter and if you want your show mentioned in this column, tweet him and let him know!

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Creative Courage For Life

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

A tango for today, a nerve-jangling thriller - and a tiger’s coming for tea!? It’s an exotic, hot-blooded chiller of an Autumn season at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, that promises something for everyone…

here’s an Indian Summer on the cards for Aylesbury this September as the temperature looks likely to rise thanks to tango superstars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace. Dance partners for over two decades, the Strictly Come Dancing favourites will thrill with their famous tango style and dazzling Latin flair in Tango Moderno. Feel the heat of the South American streets and the pulse of life in this intoxicating performance full of passion and intensity. A coup for the Vale, the pair are making their World Première here on Chilterns’ soil! If spine-chillers and being on the edge of your seat ticks your boxes, the longestrunning thriller in Broadway history, Deathtrap is a must. Familiar faces from stage and TV, Paul Bradley (Holby City, EastEnders) and Jessie Wallace (EastEnders and Kat and Alfie:

Tuesday 19th to Saturday 23rd September

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Tango Moderno - Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th September

Chas and Dave - Friday 1st September monthly Comedy Club. Redwater) are leading the cast in this wickedly Aylesbury Waterside Theatre’s Autumn enjoyable ‘who’ll do it’, where no-one is What’s On guide is out now with the season’s exactly as they first appear to be! full line-up including energising ROARsome children’s book, musicals Hairspray and Flashdance The Tiger Who Came To Tea and All or Nothing – The Mod will be the perfect start to the Musical, family classic The Railway school year for pre-schoolers Children, and some must-see one and early years. Following a nighters. smash-hit West End season, the Book now by visiting Aylesbury tea-guzzling tiger is heading to Waterside Theatre Box Office town, in a family show packed - call 0844 871 7607 (bkg fee. with magic, sing-a-long songs Calls 7p per min plus your phone and clumsy chaos. Suitable for company’s access charge) or book little cubs aged 3 and above, this online via: www.atgtickets.com/ stunning stage adaptation of the John Bishop Friday 15th September aylesbury (bkg fee). classic tale is sure to create some tigeriffic memories. A reminder now that comedy flies out the l Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, theatre doors, so act fast if want to secure Exchange Street, Aylesbury, tickets for rib ticklers John Bishop, Joel Buckinghamshire, HP20 1UG Telephone Booking: 0844 871 7607 Dommett, Rob Brydon, Milton Jones Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury or new up-and-coming talent at the venue’s

The Tiger who came to Tea - Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th September

Coming up at The Waterside Your at-a-glance guide to what’s on... Comedy Club (Second Space) National Theatre Yerma: live screening (Second Space) Islands in the Stream Chas & Dave: The Full Story Live Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace: Tango Moderno John Bishop: Winging It Deathtrap

The Tiger Who Came To Tea Thank Abba For The Music Joel Dommett

Joel Dommett - Friday 29th September

Fri 25th August Thur 31st August Thur 31st August Fri 1st Sept Thur 7th to Sat 9th Sept Fri 15th Sept Tue 19th to Sat 23rd Sept Mon 25th and Tue 26th Sept Thur 28th Sept Fri 29th Sept

Milton Jones - Thursday 5th October Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

The 53rd Towersey Festival returns to Thame Showground on August Bank Holiday weekend. This friendly, relaxed festival with a folky vibe, boasts an amazing line up of musical talent, plus lots for all the family to see, hear, eat, drink and do...

KT’s back and this time it’s personal!

Spooky Men’s Chorale

owersey Festival 2017 sports another superb lineup for the August Bank Holiday weekend. Headliners include KT Tunstall and Jon Boden, formerly of Towersey, favourites Bellowhead (Friday); Newton Faulkner, Eliza Carthy, and The Blockheads, plus top comedy from Daniel Kitson collaborator Gavin Osborn and our very own Rob Deering (Saturday); Show Of Hands, Lindisfarne, Ed Sheeran co-writer Foy Vance and Gary Stewart’s acclaimed tribute to Paul Simon’s Graceland album (Sunday); plus the exuberant Demon Barbers XL (Monday)! Away from the main stages there’s loads more for day trippers and families to enjoy. A Festival Green ticket allows access to a full day of entertainment with a rolling programme of live bands in the Bar Stage,

Lindisfarne

In the wake of a divorce and the death of her father, KT Tunstall was ready to quit music. 2013’s Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon was her first to miss the Top 10, and she had no plans, or desire, to write another record. Finding herself “lost at sea” and tired of London, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she enrolled on a film course. “I really thought I was going to take five or ten years out ...” confesses the singersongwriter, who found fame with 2004’s Eye To The Telescope, and the hit singles Suddenly I See and Black Horse And The Cherry Tree. But driving around LA’s canyons and listening to Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and CSN&Y, she felt reinvigorated, and began penning songs that combined a “thumping, powerful beat” with an openness and honesty she’d arguably previously avoided. “There’s quite a lot of very personal storytelling on this record,” she says of her most recent release, KIN, “and that came from being into all the classic music of the sixties that I love so much.”

Blackbeard’s Tea Party

where you can also sample 30-plus real ales and ciders from award-winning independent brewers. Across the Festival Green you’ll find dancers, international street theatre acts, artist and maker demonstrations, storytelling, craft stalls and sellers, and a great range of street food vendors. The festival’s popular Creative Quarter is also back, this time with a medieval theme, so expect wandering minstrels, a friendly dragon, sorcerer, knights, jousting, sword and shield making, as well as a knitting circle.

KT Tunstall Her move also opened doors within Hollywood, resulting in musical contributions to an increasing number of films including several Walt Disney projects, Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Bad Moms. “I get a chance to make work that’s entirely different to what I might normally do,” she says of her move into writing songs for movies. “I’m flexing a different muscle, musically speaking.” After a series of UK solo shows earlier this year, she’ll be bringing her full band to Towersey. “If you had me at gunpoint, I’d say I prefer playing with the band,” says KT, who is already working on a follow-up to KIN. “But the band leaving the stage [during the show] lets me do my solo thing, so that’s the best of both worlds.” l Towersey Festival runs from Friday 25th to Monday 28th August 2017, at Thame Showground, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3JL Weekend Adult tickets: £136, Adult Day Tickets from £30. Under 5s are free. Festival Green tickets are £9/£7 adv, or £10/£8 on the gate, with children under 16 free. Car parking is also free. Details: www.towerseyfestival.com

The Blockheads

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

The Bucks County Show is one of the biggest and best one day agricultural shows in the country. It’s right here on our doorstep at Weedon Park, Aylesbury, and this year is special - it’s the show’s 150th birthday...

eedon Park is on the Buckingham Road just a mile or so from Aylesbury. It will be home to the 150th Bucks County Show on Thursday, August 31st, one of Buckinghamshire’s biggest summer attractions. For this special celebratory year the Show is excited to welcome back, in the Main Ring, The Household Cavalry Musical Ride. The Cavalry are made up of the two most senior regiments of the British Army, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. They will give a demonstration of military equine skills, precision, incredible trust and eye-watering bursts of speed. It is a spectacular display which you will not want to miss. The ever popular Sheep Show will be back too with New Zealander

Stuart Barnes and his incredible dancing flock. The Show is of course a fascinating chance to see some of the best livestock in the country in competition for a host of trophies and prizes, together with equine classes including show jumping. There will be some sixty cattle classes and more than thirty sheep classes plus around eighty equine classes, including qualifiers for the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International Horse Show. The Home and Garden marquee will be filled with entries from people demonstrating their skills in cooking, wine making, photography, flower arranging, handicrafts and flower and vegetable growing. There are over two hundred trade stands, a Shopping Marquee, a

Master of the Hunt

The Household Cavalry

Judging the produce new larger Food Hall, Rural Craft Marquee, Vintage Tractor Parade and an entertaining Countryside Area with many demonstrations showing traditional rural skills. The Bucks County Show is packed with competitions, displays and breathtaking events whilst demonstrating traditional Buckinghamshire rural and agricultural activities. There is something for all the family to enjoy so why not come

along and end the summer holidays with a fantastic family day out! Car parking is free, but don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance to save on the admission price! The 150th show is such a special occasion it couldn’t be allowed to pass without a suitable celebration and this year there will be a Bucks County Show 150th Anniversary Ball held on Saturday 9th September, also at the showground. Tickets and further information about both the show and the ball can be found on the website at: www.buckscountyshow.co.uk l Bucks County Show, Weedon Park, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP22 4NN Thursday, August 31st, 2017 Tickets and info: Tel: 01296 680400 Web: www.buckscountyshow.co.uk Facebook: \buckscountyshow Twitter: @buckscountyshow

Herding ducks

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Buy your tickets in advance and save £s! Adult £14/Child £5. www.buckscountyshow.co.uk

Art classes at village hall A rtist and art tutor George Boyter hails from Pittenweem in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. He studied Drawing and Painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee and enjoyed an awardwinning career as a creative director in advertising, in London, before going into education and becoming Course Leader of the MA Advertising Course at Bucks New University, gaining a Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education. He currently lives in Postcombe, near Thame, teaches art and paints. George specialises in watercolour landscapes, life drawing, portraits and oils. He has completed several large commissions and is working on some more this Summer. He has been appointed Artist-in-Residence for Berkley Care Group and teaches occasional classes at the Phoenix Studios in Towersey - where he has just completed a Watercolour Weekend. He also teaches at Studley Green Arts Group and will be tutoring a watercolour course at Henley School of Art in the Autumn. George was recently invited to take part in the Portrait Painting Challenge ‘A Brush With Fame’ in

Art Classes

with George Boyter

Watercolour Courses 4 all-day sessions covering techniques and composition. Dates: August 1/8/15/22 - £160 Weekend Course (Sat/Sun) Dates: September 23/24 - £120

Life Drawing Anatomy based guidance featuring classical Renaissance and Impressionist poses. Dates: fortnightly evening classes start August 23rd - £15 per session

George Boyter instructing his art class at Sydenham School Hall

Milton Keynes for which 30 artists were allocated one of five TV celebrities and given four hours to create a portrait, working live in the middle of the shopping centre! George’s drawing and watercolour of actor Clive Mantle was adjudged to be the overall winner. He has studied watercolour under Alvaro Castagnet, the Uruguyan master and in September will be spending a week in Spain under the tutelage of Joseph Zbukvik, the world renowned master of the watercolour

medium. George is running a series of Art Classes in Sydenham’s Old School Hall through August, September and October, which are open to all levels. These include a four session Watercolour Course, Life Drawing classes and a four session Art Sampler course with tutoring for any level of experience, from complete beginners wanting to experience art for the first time to those who would like to progress further. There are more details on

Art Sampler Courses 4 session afternoon course covering Drawing techniques, Oil painting, Watercolours and Portraits. Dates: October 5/12/19/26 - £80 George’s website: www.georgeboyterartist.com or you can give him a call. George is a friendly, chatty, approachable guy with the patience, knowledge and humour to make classes enjoyable, inspiring and thoroughly worthwhile. l George Boyter Tel: 07715 749205 Email georgeboyterartist@gmail.com Web: www.georgeboyterartist.com

Bucks Museum is a real treat!

Roald Dahl CG bubble tube

Lego Flying Scotsman Steam locomotive (8m long)!

here’s lots for all ages to see and professional LEGO building company. A do at Bucks County Museum in must for LEGO fans of all ages. There are Aylesbury this summer, including also Make and Take activities - make your the wonderful Beautiful Stitch own LEGO brick model to take home exhibition and our special family show running throughout the exhibition. On now BRICKS BRITANNIA: the history of until 4th September, (admission charge). Britain in LEGO® bricks. Mon to Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: 12-4pm. The Beautiful Stitch: textile treasures Bucks County Museum is also home from the Embroiderers’ Guild collection to the fabulous Roald Dahl Children’s From Chinese shoes to American Indian Gallery where hands-on exhibits inspired gloves, from 18th century whitework to by Roald Dahl’s stories make finding out 21st century artwork, this is a real treat even more fun. Crawl along Fantastic Mr for those interested in textiles Fox’s tunnel, explore sound with and embroidery - some of the BFG and discover amazing the finest pieces from the new exhibits that are out of this Guild’s stunning collections of world. Admission charge. Gallery historical and contemporary open now to 5th September, Mon embroidery. Now until 28th to Sat: 10am-5pm, Sun: 12-4pm. October - Free entry to With a café, gift shop and exhibition. Check our website relaxing garden Bucks County for special embroidery events. Museum is the perfect place Bricks Britannia: the for families to discover things Embroiderer’s Guild together. history of Britain in LEGO® Collection bricks - Marvel at more than l Bucks County Museum & Roald 30 stunning models made from 150,000 Dahl Children’s Gallery, Church Street, LEGO bricks, that tell the story of British Aylesbury HP20 2QP. history from the Stone Age to the 21st Tel 01296 331441 Century. The centre-piece is an 8 metre www.buckscountymuseum.org long model of the Flying Scotsman steam Check website for all charges, opening locomotive built by Bright Bricks, the times, birthday parties and special events. Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

There are some gorgeous areas of natural beauty locally, but that’s not the only reason to head for Wendover Woods. It’s the exciting Go Ape Tree Top Adventure Trail that makes it a really top spot...

he Chiltern Hills are as rugged as it gets round here and Wendover Woods, straddling the chalk escarpment above Halton and Aston Clinton, is not only an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but also the highest point of The Chilterns at 267m above sea level! Here, amid 814 acres of forest, managed by the Forestry Commission for timber production, is the Go Ape Tree Top Adventure Course. It’s a great location, surrounded by a massive natural playground which boasts walking trails, a handy café, a forest fitness trail, a children’s play area, a treasure hunt trail, sound sculptures, a family cycle route, picnic areas, barbecues, horse trails, bike trails, an all-ability trail suitable for buggies and wheelchairs, public toilets and parking for 200 cars (small charge for parking)! From the main road, the woodland road leads into the forest for one mile, at which point you will find parking, the Go Ape high ropes course and the Café in the Woods: This

may be the highest point in The Chilterns, but if you really want to live the high life, the only way is up! That’s up onto Go Ape’s exciting tree top adventure trail, where you can get in touch with your inner Tarzan and enjoy spectacular views across Wendover Woods

from high up in the trees, while negotiating tree-top high wire crossings, Tarzan swings, rope ladders, a variety of obstacles plus wind-in-your-face zip wires! There’s also an ‘extreme’ site if you really want to push yourself! The Go Ape course takes 2-3 hours to complete and is great for families, birthday parties, stag parties, hen parties and corporate events. It’s also a great choice for anyone who’d like to overcome their fear of heights. The minimum age is 10yrs, minimum height: 1.4m (4ft7″) and maximum weight: 20.5 stones (130kg). It is recommended that you book in advance via the Go Ape website, see: www.goape.co.uk or call: 0845 643 9215. Gorillas (18 years +): £33. Baboons (10-15 years): £25. l Go Ape, Wendover Woods, St Leonards Road, Wendover, Bucks, HP22 5NF Booking line: 0845 643 9215 Web: www.goape.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

WIN an adventurous day in the tree tops with Go Ape! O

ur furry friends at Go Ape Wendover have got a Free Family Pass up for grabs. Covering two adults and two youngsters (must be at least 10 years old and taller than 1.4 metres), it’s a great day out for the whole Tribe. Go Ape are the UK’s number one forest adventure and with sites set in 31 beautiful UK parkland locations from Lancashire to London, they offer the chance to try something you’ve never experienced before. From scaling sycamores to leaping off limes, the trees will become your adventure ground. Navigating a combination of canopy-height crossings, tricky obstacles, and awesome zip wires, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve with your Tribe beside you. And if you find yourself taking to the trees like a duck to water, their Wendover Woods course is the only Go Ape in the UK to offer an optional ‘extreme’ site. Perfect if you want

to push yourself. Obstacles involve a vertical climbing wall, a scrambling net, and a tricky trapeze-style number. There’s also an easy route if you want to ease yourself in. If you’re not the lucky winner of their family pass, don’t despair. Their new flexible approach to pricing means a day in the forest won’t cost the Earth and if you have a date in mind when you’d like to Go Ape, you could bag a bargain by booking well in advance. Feeling more flexible? Take a look at their booking calendar - some dates will be cheaper than others. Whichever way, the general rule is: be thrifty, book swiftly! Your day doesn’t have to end after your Go Ape adventure, either. Wendover Woods is the perfect destination for a full day out. After your Go Ape adventure, you could track down the Gruffalo with the Forestry Commission’s new app, explore the children’s play area or feed the family by making use of the free-to-use barbecue

pits. Or perhaps just relax in the Café in the Woods with a cup of tea and a sarnie... If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning a Free Family Pass to Go Ape at Wendover Woods, enter your details at: www.goape.co.uk/competitions/vale-life

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Column: Sandra Smith ‘Our Creative Vale’

All the art you can eat E

ach of Sherry Hostler’s cakes is a work of art. From tiers of punk inspired paraphernalia to elegant floral designs and themes such as sport, music and animals, every lavish, bespoke creation is testament to imagination and skill. Surprisingly, though, Sherry only discovered her passion when she took steps to escape a boring job. “I wanted to do something creative so I went on a cake decorating course,” the Tring based entrepreneur explains, “and discovered I was a natural! Then I had my first booking. I’d never baked a cake before and had to teach myself.” As more and more orders came her way Sherry eventually exchanged an admin role for her own business which continues to offer challenges. “There’s a never-ending learning process because techniques change all the time. A few years ago soft edges were popular, now people like them razor sharp and the

Sherry Hostler

whole styling is different. You can buy edible gold leaf and people ask for flowers made out of rice paper.” Meeting customers, understanding personalities and appreciating their ideas are key to the end result. Sherry avoids working from set designs and relishes the opportunity of pulling together random ideas. She sketches plans which, once

Win latest Otway CD! J

ohn Otway - ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Greatest Failure’ - is currently touring to promote his new album Montserrat and will be performing at Aylesbury’s Limelight Theatre (Queen’s Park Centre) on Saturday, 23rd September. John’s decision to record his latest waxing in Montserrat may not have been his best. ‘Where do real rock stars go to make an album?’ he had mused... Montserrat was the place in the 70s and 80s that major rock stars made their records - The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Dire Straits, Duran Duran... But two hurricanes later and one erupting volcano and all had changed. Air Studios fell into disrepair, the capital city became a modern day Pompeii and half the island became uninhabitable due to the spread of ash. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo effectively 68

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

destroyed Sir George Martin’s Air Studios making Steel Wheels the last album to be recorded there. Until now.... Otway wasn’t going to let a little thing like weather conditions and topography deter him and when the Otway team arrived on the island last year - in the tiny seven seater plane (the only current commercial transport onto the island) - they were greeted at the airport by the Premier, several members of the cabinet and Miss Montserrat. The Islanders were delighted that someone was coming to record. Air studios is no longer an option but Sir George Martin had a house in the North of the island. It had a basement with a soundproofed room that used to house a radio station and it was the perfect size for a four piece band. Sir George, like the

approved by the client, are followed by decisions regarding colours and technicalities. Internal structuring is needed for large creations which are often carved from Madeira cake because of its shape holding qualities. Pastillage - a sugar based dough that sets hard - is used for freestanding features. “Everything is edible. I offer a range of flavours such as vanilla, chocolate, lemon, coconut and lime, and red velvet - a cross between vanilla and chocolate.” Such is her reputation, Sherry is a preferred supplier for a number of prestigious hotels. She runs workshops and regularly enters competitions, appreciating the opportunity of generating her own designs. Despite the intricacy of her work, transporting each cake is, perhaps, her biggest test. “Really big cakes are constructed at the venue but generally I like to put them together beforehand.

Creative Vale

Sandra Smith I take them all myself in heavy duty boxes but I feel every bump in the road and I’m very careful driving around corners and roundabouts.” Understandably, if Sherry is invited to an event she won’t cut her own cake (“It’s my baby!”). Who can blame her? Her cakes are, after all, as gorgeous to look at as they are tasty. For more information see: www.sherryhostlercakeartistry.com l Find out more about Sandra

Smith’s work as a freelance writer by following her on Twitter: @TheCurrentMrsS or visiting her website: www.TheCurrentMrsSmith.co.uk

Otway and band in Montserrat islanders, liked the idea of someone yourself it’s amazing what you can do. I wanted to make a better album going back to record, and gave the project his support. than Steel Wheels – and I did!” So, almost a year ago now, the The new CD features 11 tracks in all (“10 are definitely hits!” says Otway Band found themselves in Otway) and comes in vinyl, CD and a Caribbean house surrounded by special box set formats. gold records and Linda McCartney Photographs. The producer Chris If you’d like to be in with the Birkett (Sinead O’Connor’s Nothing chance of winning a signed copy, Compares To You amongst other email your name, address and telephone number plus the answer credits) was given Sir George’s room and the team set about carving to the following question to: their niche in history. editor@vale-life.co.uk In which sea is the Island of “It was a big job,” says Otway, “the band flew in from the UK, the Montserrat? Winner to be drawn at random producer from Canada, the amps from Miami and the fans from all and notified by email by Sept 4th. over, but it was incredibly well l Tour ticket details are available worth it. Given the pressure and from venues. For more information the expectations that you put upon see www.johnotway.com

Column: Nick Coffer ‘In the kitchen’

Chickpea fattet, iced salad, cumin & fennel seed yoghurt

e’ve had a run of desserts in this series of recipes so it is time to redress the balance with this brilliant vegetarian dish. A fattet is a Lebanese spiced stew, made up of complex sweet flavours and spices. It’s a really wonderful dish, which will satisfy vegetarians and meat eaters alike. This version was created by Alfie Smith, a very talented young head chef at the Rump & Wade in Stevenage. He finishes off the stew with a very contrasting crispy iced salad. This dish may look like a winter warmer but it is surprisingly refreshing and satisfying even in the hotter months.. Ingredients: Serves 2-3 400g chickpeas in water, drained & washed 1 spanish onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 5g Fresh mint, finely sliced 1 cinnamon stick ½ tsp chilli flakes ½ tsp ground mixed spice 1tbsp pomegranate molasses 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 1 vegetable stock cube 200ml water

In the kitchen Nick Coffer

10ml vegetable oil Iced Salad 1 khol-rabi, thinly sliced 1 red pepper, thinly sliced ½ small white cabbage, thinly sliced 5g corriander Cumin yoghurt 100g Greek yoghurt 15g ground cumin 1 lemon juiced 5g fennel seeds Method: Take a medium heavy-based

saucepan and place it on a medium heat. Put the cinnamon stick, chili flakes and mixed spice into the pan. Dry roast the spices on the medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Add 10ml of vegetable oil, onions and garlic. Sweat for 3-4 minutes until softened. Now add the chickpeas, chopped tomato, stock cube, pomegranate molasses and water. Leave to simmer down for 40-45minutes stirring frequently. Take thinly sliced, kohlrabi, cabbage and red pepper and place in iced water (you want about 1/3 ice to 2/3 water).

Pick the leaves from the coriander and add them to the ice water Leave for 5-10minutes to crisp up in the iced water. In a dry frying pan roast off the cumin for 2-3minutes take off the heat and squeeze the juice of one lemon. Add cumin and lemon paste to the yoghurt and the fennel. Serve the fattet with the iced vegetables and the yoghurt. You can also serve it with couscous or bulgur wheat too. l Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick weekday afternoons at midday for music plus local guests with great stories.

Harvest Moon

Tastefully decorated, authentic Chinese restaurant, serving traditional dishes to suit every taste. Eat-in and takeaway service. Perfect for parties - we can cater for groups of up to 50 people. Harvest Moon, 1 Pump Lane, Thame, Oxon, OX9 3BT Tel: 01844 215272 / 214834 Email: harvestmoonthame@gmail.com Website: www.harvestmoonthame.co.uk Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Win meal for two at Canaletto

analetto Italian Restaurant and Public House at Kingswood, near Waddesdon, is owned by father and son Javier and James Varela. Here you can not only enjoy a Mediterranean mix of friendly service, welcoming ambience and great food, but excellent value too. Parts of Canaletto date back several hundred years. It has a cosy bar area where you can enjoy a pint or a snack amid oak beams, flagstones, and on chilly days, an open fire. Beyond is the impressive restaurant with fabulous beamed and vaulted ceiling and feature stone fireplace. It is comfortably furnished with an airy, contemporary feel and bright floral prints on the chairs, which contrast pleasantly with the stone, oak beams and grey wood half panelling - it’s very smart but feels relaxed and welcoming. To the rear a stunning new outdoor terrace is a fabulous spot for al fresco dining or drinks in the sunshine! At Canaletto the food is all made on the premises using the finest ingredients - seasonal and local where possible - to create freshly prepared authentic Italian dishes,

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Canaletto at Kingswood

New sun terrace

Arancini

often from recipes handed down through the generations. There is an experienced and passionate team in the kitchen who create mouthwatering, traditional, home-cooked Italian food - classic dishes such as King Prawns in Garlic Butter (Gamberoni); Baked Gnocchi with Spinach and Gorgonzola; Tagliatelle with Bolognese Ragù; Fillet of Beef with Wild Mushrooms in a rich Port and Brandy Reduction

(Filetto Canaletto); Baked Seabass with Vine Tomatoes, Fresh Herbs and Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Branzino); followed, of course, by a mouthwatering Italian dessert such as Tiramisu or Panna Cotta. The menu is varied seasonally, there are constantly changing specials and always a good selection of pasta, meat, fish and vegetarian dishes too, all excellent quality and value for money.

There is also a bar snack menu and you can just pop in for a drink if you like - it’s a pub as well after all, with real ales, lager, Guinness and cider on tap and an extensive list of more than 70 carefully selected wines. The restaurant is open from 122.30pm and 6.30-9.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and then on Sundays for lunch from 12-2.30pm when there is a special Sunday Lunch Menu to choose from. If you’d like to be in with the chance of winning a three course meal for two with bottle of house wine at Canaletto, simply email your name, address and telephone number, along with the answer to the following question, to: editor@vale-life.co.uk Where is Canaletto? Winner to be drawn at random from correct entries and notified by email by Sept 4th, 2017. l Canaletto, Bicester Road, Kingswood, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP18 0RB Tel: 01296 770251 Email: enquiries@ canalettorestaurant.com Web: www.canalettorestaurant.com

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2016

Once again, following the success of last year’s inaugural event, a mouthwatering collection of cars and motorcycles is to be displayed in the stunning gardens of Claydon Estate, at Middle Claydon, near Buckingham, home of the Verney family since 1620...

he inaugural Cars in the Claydons took place a year ago, and due to its popularity has grown into a full weekend event for 2017. Conceived by Nicholas and Alexandra Verney of the Claydon Estate and James Beckett of James Beckett Motorsport, the event provides two days of motoring fun for all the family, it is the ultimate motoring garden party. Competition cars are set to headline the event’s entry list, with a special collection of red vehicles housed within the historic Claydon Courtyard in honour of the Estate’s Victorian fire engine which is on public display for the first time. Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with the display vehicles, many of them having international competition pedigree from races contested, including the famous Le Mans 24-Hour Race. Jaguar, Audi, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche are all set to be featured within the tranquil and picturesque setting. Single-seater racing cars will have their own section, as will rally and off-road cars, while a motorcycle paddock will house an array of machines in the Pool Garden. A competitive trial will be held for motorcycles, and ‘The Claydon Cup’ will also be contested at the event. Racing motorcycles and prestige road machines will make sure that fans of two-wheel transport will not be disappointed! Cars in the Claydons will welcome participants to the Claydon Estate who have enjoyed taking part in a Touring Assembly on the way, organised by the Oxford Motor Club. Named ‘Cars to the Claydons’, the road

Trina and Shamus

run will see owners of classic cars arrive at Claydon having travelled a scenic road route to the Claydon Estate starting from the Chinnor Railway. The Phoenix Tea Rooms will be offering luxury home made picnics (by advanced order only) lunches and afternoon teas, for those wishing to make a day of it, and further catering outlets will be available in the picturesque grounds. There will be something for the whole family at this historic motoring extravaganza. Cars in the Claydons will officially kick off with a VIP Preview Evening on Friday September 1st, with an ‘Exclusive Sneak Preview Drinks Party’ taking place within The Courtyard at Claydon. Motoring and nostalgia

will combine for a wonderful evening as a prelude to the main event. Tickets for this exclusive evening are on sale now. Gates open for Cars in the Claydons at 10am on Saturday, September 2nd and Sunday, September 3rd, with tickets costing just £10 on the gate. Accompanied Children aged under 16 are admitted free of charge. For more information about Cars in the Claydons, or to book tickets, see: www.claydonestate.co.uk or visit the Phoenix Tea Rooms. l The Claydon Estate, Middle Claydon, Buckinghamshire, MK18 2EX Tel: 01296 730252 Email: info@claydonestate.co.uk Web: www.claydonestate.co.uk

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

l Column: Alan Candy’s Altomobiles

Going green Lexus IS300h F Sport

K, so you’d like to go green with a hybrid. But you still like performance driving. What to do? Well for starters, forget all those lumpy SUVs. Money permitting, look no further than the elegant, cutting-edge, allaction Lexus IS300h F Sport. It’s a compact saloon and won’t have the space of a crossover. But for the money, there’s nothing to touch it in terms of glamour and driving satisfaction. This is the third generation of Lexus’s million-selling compact sports saloon, with interior and cockpit inspired by the LFA supercar. There is the choice of a petrol turbo powered model or the hybrid – both versions available with the awesome F Sport style and handling package. With the hybrid F Sport, you can even adjust the volume of the engine sound, thanks to an Active Sound Control dial to

Lexus IS300h F Sport 72

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Alan Candy’s

AltomobilES the right of the steering wheel, which relays noise into the cabin via a dedicated speaker behind the audio unit. The hybrid also gives you optional drive modes from which to choose – Eco, NormalCustomise and Sport. Not only is the IS300h F Sport one of the best cars to drive in its class, it also boasts sensational looks – especially in elegant side profile. Narrow, squinting headlamps underscored by eye-catching tick-mark LEDs and dramatic air scoops flanking the front grille announce the IS300h’s arrival, while piano black B-pillars, smoked grey alloys and chunky, colour-coded door mirrors add

Lexus IS300h F Sport more allure. The interior is also beautifully appointed and top notch, with a neat, compact two-tier dashboard, a fabulous proper analogue clock and three-spoke wrapped leather wheel. The long, wide infotainment screen gives excellent readout but the computer mouse

operation is very sensitive and needs absolute precision to work properly – difficult on the move. Not everyone will like the kick-on and off American-style parking brake to the left of the pedals, either. The hybrid starts in absolute silence and runs with whisperquiet efficiency in tandem with an electric motor, switching seamlessly between the two as necessary, with no input necessary from the driver. However there is an EV mode button that can be pressed which switches instantly, provided there is enough battery power. This full hybrid can run on electric power alone, given the right conditions, and will do so as often as possible. A stepless auto CVT transmission is prone to drone under harsh acceleration but operates very smoothly. On the move a low-slung driving position and low centre of gravity gives the vehicle a sports car feel; steering is light but engaging and pin sharp. Superb roadholding and majestic, effortless cornering are standout Continued on page 74

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

l Column: Alan Candy’s Altomobiles

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Continued from page 72 features and the IS300h F Sport is relaxing and absorbing to drive on every trip. You can even play racing driver by bringing the paddles behind the wheel into play for instant dynamic control.

Although the IS300 lacks oddments space, the luggage section tunnels a long way into the car, with tie-down hooks and a wide and generous boot aperture. Overall, it doesn’t come much better than this – the ultimate hybrid of the moment.

Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, from £20,585 Elegant, comfortable and spacious hybrid, highly satisfying all-rounder.

Factfile: Model tested: Lexus IS300h F Sport. Price as tested: £35,625. Power: Four cylinder engine of 2,494cc, 178bhp; electric motor, 141bhp. Transmission: Electric CVT. Performance: 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds, top speed 125mph. CO2 emissions: 107g/km. Fuel consumption: 61.4mpg combined.

Lexus IS300h F Sport

Volvo XC90 T8, from £61,705 Refined, fast seven-seat hybrid SUV; manufacturer of the moment. Kia Niro, from £21,635 Good first hybrid from the Korean firm, though not as clean as a Toyota Prius.

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Tyres l Brakes l Batteries l Servicing l Exhausts l MOTs Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

l Column: On

The Road with Rob Auchterlonie

Frisky al fresco Mercedes-Benz C220 AMG Line 4Matic Cabriolet

t’s good to see a manufacturer cutting their cloth according to their cabriolet these days. When others have taken the tin top route, there’s a definite tick in the ‘traditional’ box from Mercedes-Benz with smart fold down fabric roofs adorning their cabriolet models. The latest to vie for your attention – and subsequent cash – is a rather fetching offering from the three pointed star stable in the shape of the C-Class Cabriolet. Its distinctive silhouette is pretty unmistakable – and you wouldn’t mistake it for anything other than a Merc. That classic fabric soft top, which whirrs and clicks and folds away in a matter of seconds, has so many layers that even when the temperature plummets, you stay snugly cocooned inside. Which wasn’t a problem during our spell with the car, when the big yellowy thing in the sky made one of its infrequent visits to these shores and actually hung around for a few days. Click the keyfob and the smart LED day lights initially are blue before fading to a brilliant white – just one of the neat touches adorning the C220. It’s a superbly comfortable car behind the wheel with your

Rob Auchterlonie

ON The Road

Mercedes-Benz C220 AMG Line 4Matic Cabriolet ideal driving position achieved by fiddling with the electric control panel on the door. And that might dictate who can sit in the back. While it’s billed as a four seater, and can be used as such, rear leg

CITROEN C3 C220 AMG Line 4Matic Cabriolet Mercedes-Benz 76

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

room is limited if the driver is selfish and demands more space for himself than his occupants. Small kids no problem, anyone over-sized is going to struggle. Roof down and with the

electric rear deflector successfully deployed, wind buffeting is kept to a minimum if you keep your speed this side of sensible. It’s an effective draught excluder, though not in the sense of the old knitted snake your gran used to slap down behind the door, but dip into the performance (143mph top speed, 0-62 in 8.1 secs) and, well, you have been warned. Donald Trump would have a BIG problem…. High quality insulation means noise levels inside - or lack of them - are among the best in class, as is the quality of the switches, buttons, dials and overall fit and finish. It’s a high quality cabin, exceptionally well kitted out, with a predominance of chrome edging, aluminium trim and leather, set off by some tidy black panelling on the centre console. It’s fairly quiet, warm and windproof, which sounds a bit like my garden shed but there the comparison very definitely ends… On the road the C220 displays impeccable road manners and poise. The precision when cornering or negotiating the many roundabouts of Milton Keynes is exemplary – no deviation from the line you’ve dialled in via the multi button steering wheel. And

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Mercedes-Benz C220 AMG Line 4Matic Cabriolet scuttle shake – the bane of many a cabriolet – is barely noticeable as the smooth nine speed auto box keeps everything moving along. C-Class has been a stalwart of the M-B range since back in 1982, but this is actually the first convertible to wear the C-Class badge in all that time. So, not just the boy Hamilton who has access to a quick and efficient car with the three pointed star up front… FOR: great all rounder AGAINST: highish price for diesel engine

FASTFACTS: Mercedes-Benz C220d AMG Line 4MATIC CABRIOLET: £43,205; 2143cc four cylinder twin turbo common rail diesel, 170hp, 400Nm; 9G-Tronic Plus nine speed automatic; top speed 143mph, 0-62mph 8.1secs; fuel – urban 52.3, extra urban 67.3, combined 61.4; CO2 127g/km; will it fit the garage? 4686/2016/1416 (l/w/h).

Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017

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Vale Life : Aug/Sept 2017