August 2014
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Taken automatically from the printed pages, so some words may run together.
Page 1
FASHION | l IF e S tyle | e N te R t AINM e N t | SPOR t | M u SI c
Autumn A lre A dy?
SHOPPING l IS t S
WE TAKE A LOOK AT
WHAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR
AUTUMN/WINTER LIST
AN y ON e H u NGR y ?
WE STEP OUT FOR DINNER
AND HEAD TO THE NEW
PITCHER & PIANO IN HITCHIN
DRIVING AMBI t ION
NEW JOBS ARE HARD TO COME
BY BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
WE HAVE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES
Blu RR e D l IN e S
FROM CHILDHOOD STAR
TO OUTRAGEOUS TWERKING
CELEB.. WE DISCUSS MILEY
MOV e HIM IN
IT COULD BE BLISS OR A
LIVING NIGHTMARE.
SHOULD HE MOVE IN?
M A keu P t IPS
MAKE A HUGE IMPRESSION
WITH ATTENTION GRABBING
RED LIPSTICK
Page 2
Oh n O
She didn’t.
d id S he?
We have all seen
the video from the
MTV Video Music
Awards. Was it
really that bad?
We look at how
a good girl goes
so bad. From
Hannah Montana to
twerking on
Robin Thicke.
Must haves for autu M n
Summer is still hanging about but Autumn is
waiting around the corner. We look some
Autumn essentials that you may need to put
on the credit card.
Got ink? t he tattoo debate
Cheryl Cole’s ass has opened up the tattoo
debate once again. Gemma Dorling takes
a look at both sides of the debate on wether
getting inked up is a wise idea.
n ew balls please
Getting into a new sport is the perfect way
to stay fit and entertained. With tennis
becoming one of the fastest growing sports in
the UK, we look at how to get started.
CO ntent S
mA in fe A ture S
6
12
26
44
Page 3
Midweek treat anyone | 35
Feeling peckish? We visit Hitchin’s
newest eatery and bar to see how
the old Que Pasa looks and the food
tastes. Divorare.
a G a M e of two halves | 40
With Sir Alex Ferguson in retirement,
the return of the special one and
Liverpool spending, could this be the
best season of the premiership?
a swift little one | 60 - 64
Fed up with catching the bus? Check
out our review of the best hatches of
the year.
S m A rt m O ve
s M ile and say cheese | 20
Holiday season is still going strong
but what is the second thing to think
about after your passport and visa?
the bi G bad M ove | 28 - 29
It made sense. You get on great so
why not move in together to save on
those bills?
buildin G a future | 38 - 39
Each month we will look at three
popular professions and tell you how
to get your foot in the door.
l ife S tyle
Wh A t’ S ne W
ne W CA reer
g OO dfell AS
t re A t y O ur S elf
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t hat autu M n feelin G | 10 - 15
Really, who doesn’t love autumn? We look at some
of the essentials for this year’s cold and wet season.
autu M n shoppin G list | 16 - 17
The sun is beginning to go away and it is time
to ditch the summer gear. We take a look at the
essential autumn shopping list. This month - coats.
s kin care skin art | 18 - 19
British interdisciplinary artist, Isamaya French
unveils a unique collection of art titled ‘The Art
Underarm’.
c o M in G to a cine M a near you | 55
Legendary director Martin Scorsese teams up with
Leonardo DiCaprio- US hit Under The Dome .
w hat to watch on your box | 56
Your essential guide to what’s on the small screen
- US hits Breaking bad & Under The Dome .
t rendlife M usic - new releases | 57
We review news singles released this month from
Toddla T, Janelle Monae and Hip Hop producer
Just Blaze.
e ntert A inment
fAS hi O n, S tyle A nd be A uty
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# be A uty
i ggy Az A le A e verybody loves i GG y | 58
# f AS hi O n
# m O vie S
# mu S i C
Page 6
We sit down for a spot of lunch at the
Fabulous Broadway in Fulham with Calum
Best to discuss how the playboy became the
business man..
I lived the rock n roll lifestyle to its bloody
peak! I had some absolutely amazing times,
and the way I look at it is that I was fortunate
enough to experience things many people
will never be able to.
That being said, it doesn’t get you anywhere
in the long run, and it can be an incredibly
destructive path. Now I am older, I feel as
though I have the ability to look back and
accept that I have moved on from that stage
in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I still like to
have a good time, but it’s less selfish now,
and more inclusive. I’ve got great people
around me – perhaps I didn’t back then.
I have consciously spent the last few years
eating properly, exercising, sleeping and
training so that I can be clear headed and
focus on what I want to achieve.
Some people know you as a TV personality
but you have also done film work. Are there
anymore in the pipeline
mi SS under S t OO d?
Page 7
miley C yru S m OS t re C ent f A ux p A u S
inv O lving A bit O f t W erking h AS CA u S ed
O utr A ge O n SOC i A l net WO rk S
W h A t’ S
y O ur
O pini O n...
“She’s really freaking talented, she’s beautiful, she can sing her ass off
and to go up there and do that? She’s cheating herself and she’s cheating
the rest of us“ - Pink
“It’s not like she did it at the Grammys. She’s young, she’s letting
everyone know she’s grown up“ - Justin Timberlake
“I think any time you do a performance that is memorable, you’re going
to have criticism. I think she’s doing her thing, being herself. So I give
props to her - Britney Spears
Page 8
n othing about it
was entertaining.
Lee Hall
e ditor
Having only watched it once,
the word that sums it up for me
is ‘cringe’. Nothing about it was
original or entertaining. We all
know Miley is growing up but this
was immaturity at it’s very best.
She is on
top of the
world...
Lisa Palma
Retail Assistant
I grew up
watching Miley
and I while I think
she is rebelling
a bit too much,
she is still young
talented and
right now, she
is on top of the
world so why
not? I personally
could do that on
a stage. My dad
would kill me.
i felt sorry
for Robin
t hicke...
Sophia Stone
Fashion intern
I am no nun but what
she doing on that stage
had nothing to do with
dancing or music. I felt
sorry for Robin Thicke
& I did think she would
be slightly embarrassed
the next day. At least it
wasn’t dull.
You could
always switch
channels...
Paul Dallimore
Student
I believe if you don’t like something, don’t do it. If you
don’t want to see Hannah Montana shaking her little
ass against a middle aged man, then you could always
switch channels.
Page 11
who
doesn’t
Autumn? Our essential c O llecti O n O f wha t
y O u need t O survive this autumn
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the ul tima te Autumn essenti A ls The tartan army marched and
stomped down the catwalk with
its best foot forward . Nice &
affordable at £19.99
www.stradivarius.com
This maroon tote bag from the J
by Jasper Conran collection has a
colour block design with tan mock
croc trims. Great look at £59.00.
www.debenhams.com
Elevate your capsule wardrobe
in an instant with this luxurious
black cashmere
V neck tunic
from Hush.
www.hush-uk.com
£170
Page 13
red lipstick
killer boots
Page 14
Blend is a new natural body care
range from the UK that combines
luxury fragranced blends with
high quality skincare ingredients.
The Blend Collective is a team of
leading, well-known aromatherapy
and perfume experts from the UK
combing their expertise to produce
an exceptional range of truly
natural body care products.
The range consists of three
distinctive luxury fragranced blends
– Enlivening, Unwinding and
Balancing – and each one contains
four different body care products,
all of which are a minimum of 99%
to 100% natural ingredients.
Prices start from £8.95
ww.blendcollective.co.uk
New for the EASTPAK Fall 13
range is the Authentic Into the Out
collection, created for the urban
explorer. Into
The Out comes in a range of
different styles with the classic
winter colour options, and follows
the current trend for nautical-
inspired products, with the navy
and white striped version.
This rugged and affordable
collection is perfect for discovering
your city.
The collection can be purchased
from Eastpak, Schuh, Urban
Outfitters, Asos and other stores.
Prices range from £45.
Page 16
The best investment buy is always a winter
coat. The Autumn/Winter 2013/2014
catwalks were all about oversized,
statement coats that will see you
through the whole season.
Think bold check prints, dusty rose hues
and the perfect camel coat . Besides the
cosy appeal of the oversized coat, my eyes
were also drawn to the sleeveless versions
seen on the Rochas, Victoria Beckham and
Trussardi catwalks.
Tartan is an obvious choice for a colourful
coat, look to Tommy Hilfiger for
monochromatic prints , or DKNY
and Vivienne Westwood for more punky
counterparts.
The high street has so far dished up a
variety of statement coats for next
season, the trench coats can be found
at Mango or Zara, with checked pieces
coming from Topshop and ASOS.
Also, if you want to recreate the
sleeveless look but haven’t the guts to
bear your arms this winter, check out the
ASOS mac with contrast sleeves
– it’s enough to fool anyone!
I’m still waiting on the perfect tartan coat,
and would absolutely love any high street
store that can recreate the look of the
Tommy Hilfiger collection!
Autumn / W inter
Sh O pping li S t
t he W inter COA t
by l A ur A be C k W ith @f AS hi O n fO r_21
16
g O O nline f O r m O re ide AS ...
Page 17
m A xm A r A
t O mmy hilfiger
C A r O lin A h errer A
r OC h AS
Page 18
#trend l ife
#trendlife ne WS
#trendlife f AS hi O n
Page 19
British interdisciplinary artist, Isamaya
French unveils a unique collection
of art titled ‘The Art Underarm’.
All of the pieces in the series
are created using the canvas
of women’s underarms - the
first time that the armpit
has been used in this
way.
Curated with
Vaseline
Deodorant to
celebrate
the female
form,
Isamaya’s
collection seeks
to draw attention to
an area usually hidden
away the armpit. Each of the
six pieces in the collection sees the
underarm decorated to become a work
of art in its own right.
Each artwork created was inspired by
nature, horticulture and the natural curve
of the female body. Included within the
collection, is ‘Underarm Wave’, a piece
created to mirror the style of the famed
Hokusai wave, which sees waves crashing
along the contour of a woman’s underarm.
The collection also includes a piece
entitled ‘Derma Beauty’ which see a secret
garden come to life within the underarm,
using real flowers and butterflies to bring to
life the concept of nature.
Georgia
Spriggs,
Vaseline
Deodorant Brand
Manager, commented
on the collaboration with
French: ‘Working with an artist
like Isamaya allowed us to create
a series of works which not only use
the underarm in a truly unique way but
create something visually impactful which
celebrates the female form and brings our
range to life in a new and interesting way.
19
Page 20
Milton Keynes
holiday bags packed?
What about that smile?
Summer is still going and the sun is still
shinning! Not sure how long it will last
though, so to be doubly sure we get our
fair share of the old currant bun many of us
are still jetting off to distant parts across the
globe. Yes folks, it’s that time of year again,
and whether it’s a romantic trip for two, a
wild weekend with the girls or a “no holds
barred” beer frenzy with the lads, you want
everything to be perfect.
OK ladies, perhaps that itsy-bitsy, teeny-
weeny bit of nothing you bought for the
beach is looking a little bit too teeny-weeny
even for your buff bikini bod? Hell no…
If you’ve got it flaunt it!
And Gentlemen; you’ve worked hard all year
to build those “killer abs”, OK maybe you
just went to the gym last week, but what the
hell, why should that hold you back? It’s now
time to strip down to the bare essentials…
Boom!!!
Nothing is going to stop you having the
perfect holiday right? but hang on, haven’t
we forgotten something people?
If you want to chat up a matador or meet
senoritas by the score as a Brit you may well
find you have your work cut out, and it’s not
just the language barrier.
Page 21
Dr. Ken Harris is a well-respected Dental Practitioner with over 30 years’ experience
in general practice. Ken is also Clinical Director for Dentist Direct who provide private
dental care across the UK. At Dentist Direct you’ll find: Fewer drills, fewer injections,
less numbness, more comfortable dental procedures and more convenient appointments!
They say you can always tell the British
abroad, but I bet you never knew it was
because of the state of our teeth did you?
The “Great British Smile” is legendary
throughout the world, but unfortunately for all
the wrong reasons, but I guess I’m not telling
you something you don’t already know.
The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
(www.bacd.com) tells us that 93% of us are
unhappy with our smile, and that almost a
quarter of us never ever show our teeth when
smiling. Will you be the one hiding at the
back when the camera appears this summer?
Mean, moody and magnificent might look
good on Clint Eastwood fellas, but for us
mere mortals, few things impress the ladies
more than a cheeky smile. And ladies, if you
want to bring all the boys to the yard, you
know nothing does it better than an all-over
tan topped off with a dazzling set of pearly
whites.
When you think about it; doors just seem to
open when you can flash a winning white
smile; imagine how useful that could be! So
come on, with summer just around the corner,
why not give your Pearlies some TLC.
Obviously a few things can spoil a holiday,
but toothache is right up there with the best of
them, and it always seems worse when we’re
abroad. Fixing fillings in Faliraki could be a
problem, and mangled molars in Magaluf
are the stuff of nightmares, so don’t put off
that niggling dental problem, why take the
risk?
Your own dentist is the best person to deal
with your dental problems so it makes sense
to get your friendly local dentist to sort it
before you go. Equally, why not ask them
how you can improve that tired old “British
Smile” with some modern cosmetic dental
techniques in time for your summer holidays?
As a practicing dentist I know that this time
of year my patients only want three things
from me, and that’s “white teeth, white teeth
and white teeth”, but I guess we can thank
TOWIE for that.
Admittedly you may have left it a little late if
you want the “full smile makeover” in time for
your hols; it can all get a little bit last minute
this time of year can’t it? But at least you can
still make a start on that winning smile with
Professional Tooth Bleaching.
It really works, and unlike that rippling six-
pack or that stunning bikini-ready figure you
promised yourself, it can be sorted in about
an hour or so, and you’ll be enjoying the
benefits long after the suntan has faded, but
do remember that only a dentist can help
your teeth to reach their dazzling white best.
So here’s to the best holiday ever, but before
you pack your bags you should definitely
treat your snogging gear to a full “M.O.T.”
You never know when it might just come in
handy. You owe it to yourself as well as all
those caballeros and senoritas, not forgetting
the cute guy sitting next to you on the plane
or even that honey in the airport departure
lounge.
If you happen to be young free and single
(lucky you!!!), remember it’s never too early
to make a good impression with a smile, and
probably preferable to the holiday round of
“Snog, Marry, Avoid”. Maybe, maybe not,
it is a holiday after all. Oh, and don’t forget
your toothbrush!!!
Page 22
We didn’t like going to the dentist, it was
inconvenient, expensive and often painful.
So we’ve changed all that!
Whenever we can, we use the latest non-invasive
techniques and laser technology - meaning fewer drills
and more comfortable procedures.
Find out how we’re making fear of dentists Find out how we’re making fear of dentists
a thing of the past at likethedentist.co.uk
or call 01908 508 704
Page 23
When wanting to make a bold statement
there’s nothing better than using a red lipstick.
Gwyneth Paltrow famously once said “beauty
to me is about being comfortable in your own
skin. That or a kick-ass red lipstick”. Whether
you’re a frequent red lipstick wearer, or you’re
thinking of trying something new, here is why
you should own a red lipstick.
1 - It can make you feel attractive and
confident. There’s something about red lipstick
that makes you feel sexy and powerful. It can
really make a statement to the world: it says
that you feel attractive, and you don’t mind
being looked at.
W hy y O u
S h O uld
OW n A red lip S ti C k
2 – It can add a statement to your outfit
on a night out. Next time you’re off on a
night out and in need of a new outfit but
don’t want to break the bank, wear one
of your simple black dresses and throw on
some red lipstick. It’s an affordable way to
update your outfit without having to spend
on new clothes.
And in times of economic downturn the
sales of lipsticks rise, so treating yourself to
a new red lipstick (even if you have 5 more
at home) is an affordable way of bringing
some glamour and style into your life.
Page 24
3 – Undeniably, it’s a classic. Red
lipstick never goes out of fashion.
Since forever, red lips have been
perceived as attractive. Even
Cleopatra painted her lips red to
attract Caesar, and unlike pinks,
oranges and browns, red lipstick is
always on trend.
4 – You can tone down the rest
of your makeup. When wearing
your favourite red lippy, you can
keep the rest of your makeup
simple. A simple subtle eye
and bold red lip is the perfect
statement look without being
over the top. You should only
ever go for a bold dramatic eye
look or a bold lip, doing both
can be too much.
5 – It can even help to make your teeth
whiter. So if you’re not keen on the
idea of teeth bleaching, choose a red
lipstick with a blue undertone as it
will help make your teeth look pearly
white (and your lips stand out too!).
Everyone can wear red lipstick.
Whether you save it for special
nights out, or you wear it all the
time, the hunt for the perfect red
lipstick is half of the fun.
About Helen É
Helen É Cosmetics is a privately owned
UK limited company founded by Helen
Elowe in 1999 and manufacture high
quality colour cosmetics which are
supplied to retailers, spas, salons and
independents worldwide
Page 26
Tattoos appear to be more prominent
than ever. Once viewed as a mark of the
rebellious crowds, tattoos have now become
rather mainstream. From “sleeves” covering
an entire arm to complicated designs across
the chest from shoulder to shoulder, there
does not appear to be anywhere that is off
limits.
With all the hype surrounding Cheryl Cole’s
latest inking are we really putting enough
thought into what we do to our bodies in the
name of ‘looking good’ right now?
One of the many arguments for not getting a
tattoo is that it looks great now while you are
young but when you age it will look awful. I
can’t help but think back to Cheryl’s tattoo.
While it is not to my taste I have to agree
that it has been well executed and looks
‘good’ now while everything is still pert, but
when she reaches 70 and her skin starts to
age and sag, those roses will definitely be
wilting.
With so many celebrities showing off their
body art, surely they must be aware of the
fact that many young people aspire to be
like them, not just their way of life, but how
they look – including their tattoos. Many
feel that those in the public eye who have a
young fan base are unwittingly encouraging
their followers to emulate their looks, risking
visiting illegal tattooists in the hope of
becoming like their idol.
How can a tattoo be classed as art when all
you are doing is permanently scarring your
body. Surely being repeatedly marked with
a needle is on a par with self harming. It is
almost as though covering yourself up with
various designs is a way of showing that you
To ink or no T T o ink By Gemma dorlin G
26
Page 27
are not happy with how you currently look
and is therefore a sign of low self esteem.
Personally I have nothing against tattoos. At
the age of 13 I decided I wanted one and
as soon as I turned 18 I thought I would be
getting my own design inked. Now at the
age of 27 I still have no tattoo.
Why? Well to be honest I cannot decide
on a design and while I have several tattoo
ideas I am worried that I will have the work
done and regret my decision. The rose
design covering the lower back
and bottom of
Cheryl is
actually covering two
tattoos she had previously had done.
Does that mean if she starts to regret this one
she is going to have an even larger image
inked on her body to cover it?
You may have just created a permanent
reminder of what could only be a temporary
feeling.
Flipping that coin and thinking about the
other side of the argument. To those people
worrying about how a tattoo will look in 30
or 40 years time, won’t your skin be aging
anyway so what difference does the fact you
have an image inked on it make? Plus with
Cheryl’s tattoo she has it on an area which
isn’t exactly going to be out for all too see-
one would hope!
How can someone be deemed a bad role
model when all they are doing is expressing
themselves? Yes teenagers are often
impressionable but we have to remember
that these young people are underage and
tattooing them would be illegal. Surely
when they are deemed
responsible
adults
it is up to them
what they do with their bodies
and how they choose to express themselves.
Just because you have a tattoo it does not
make you a bad person, it does not change
your personality or who you are, and the
same person is still there underneath.
Your tattoo can be a truly unique expression
of your personal story and what you stand
for as many people having a symbol of
something which is special to them. I have
chosen symbols and a phrase which all hold
important meanings, to others they may seem
like nothing but I will always know differently.
Yes Cheryl Cole has got a new tattoo, yes
she may well regret it, but who are we to
pass judgment on someone else’s body.
Surely as it is her choice, it makes it only her
business.
Page 28
I read somewhere once that as a Sagittarian I
would be happiest in married life if my husband
lived elsewhere or did a job that required
minimal time spent in the family home. This
did not surprise me. The idea of cohabiting has
never been high on my relationship musts and
I’ve always struggled with the conundrum of
how to achieve my ultimate goal of marriage
without actually having to co-exist with my
husband on an everyday basis.
Am I sounding crazy? Those who have ever
lived with someone will understand.
I remember my ex packing up his Xbox and
having a one sided argument about who a
scart lead belonged to. At that point I would
have gone round ripping every scart plug from
every single TV in the house and thrown them
at him just as long as he would leave. As you
have probably guessed our relationship had run
its course, my tolerance had worn thin and his
well of sense had run dry. There was nowhere
left for him to go but out of the door and finally
after what felt like forever he was gone.
It was so final, with hindsight it was so
foreseeable but all the same it was fantastic.
Like most relationships we started out happy,
more than happy in fact, had we not been I
would never invited him to share my home and
ultimately my life!
You see it started innocently enough; I would
notice his toothbrush had taken residence in
my toothbrush holder and comment on it. We
would curl up on the sofa and laugh that he
had been at my place for 11 days in a row…
maybe he should just move in. Then we
stopped saying it as a joke and took the plunge,
pretty soon we were the joke only neither one
of us was laughing and here is a few reasons
why.
When you decide to live with your other half
you don’t truly appreciate how much of your
space they are going to take up until you realise
that you haven’t been able to turn around for
months without either tripping over them or
their crap. Their stuff which was adorable and
quirky in their own place suddenly looks like
28
move in...
it will be great
by C hun S hue
Page 29
utter rubbish as you have to clear away
your prized possessions to give them some
space to call their own.
What is worse is your stuff is treated like
utter rubbish and no matter how many
times you explain that your shoes cannot
live under the stairs where the spiders
reside, they keep being flung there.
Things that you could freely do in the
comfort of your own dwellings also become
limited to the rare and mythical ‘alone
time’. I had a lovely routine with my bacon
and fried egg sandwiches, which somehow
became outlawed.
In the old days I would sit in my favourite
corner on the sofa and eat my sandwich
with great joy and anticipation. It was a
messy affair so I would wear an old scruffy
t-shirt because every so often a bite too
deep or too much pressure would cause
the yolk to drip down from the bread and
fall on my chest. My ex took offence to
this and every time I made one would
have something to say whether there was
dripping or not; so in the end I would have
to steal moments to guiltily indulge in
something that was quite enjoyable for me.
I’m sure others can relate.
Living together means there is little room to
ever miss your partner. For some this may
not be a problem but for others the need
for a little bit of spice and yearning kicks in
once they realise navigating the mundane
routines of living together has robbed the
excitement from the relationship. Even
the most stable and secure co-habiting
couple will admit that seeing your partner
everyday takes away the longing and
anticipation to be in their presence.
Luckily this doesn’t happen immediately. It
sets in after months or years of fornicating
like rabbits; when you pretty much stop
dressing up and he doesn’t take his socks
off any more during sex. The fact that you
even bother putting on matching underwear
acts as foreplay and ‘not tonight’ becomes
the theme tune of your bedroom.
The premiership season dictates what you
are allowed to say to him and when you
allowed to say it; you realise it’s impossible
to live in harmony if his team are not
winning. You long for some of the mythical
‘alone time’ thinking your single friends are
crazy for wanting to live with one of these
creatures and you almost feel jealous of
their freedom but what is it that makes you
stay?
You see as easy as it is to point out
every single irritating, frustrating and
soul destroying aspect of living with your
partner; when it is with the right person all
the silly arguments over who was meant to
buy the milk become anecdotes to tell at
the wonderful dinner parties you throw as
a couple.
When you are with the right person and
love living with them you know that going
home to them is the best feeling in the
world. A bit of sock on action is rarely
mundane and the fact that you never get
to miss them is a bonus not something to
be worried about. Like a badge of honour,
the keys that you both own (maybe on
matching key rings, who knows) prove that
you have navigated through the battlefield
that is cohabiting.
So while cohabiting isn’t for everyone and I
could probably list a million reasons why it
went wrong for me in the past I still hope
that I find someone who I love enough to
overlook the annoying traits that they will
bring to the table and hope they can do the
same for me. Until then, you can find me
in my corner happily eating my bacon and
fried egg sandwich!
... i promise you
Page 30
With their presence at London Fashion
Week almost as highly anticipated as
the celebrities and designers themselves,
there is no denying that super-bloggers are
taking over the fashion world.
Working with designers on campaigns,
collections and photo shoots, bloggers
are just as important as the press these
days, especially when it comes to fashion.
With many building their blog into a fully
fledged business, these girls (and guys)
certainly know a thing or two when it
comes to success, hard work and well,
fashion.
Moving to the UK 6 years ago, Tamara
Kalinic has made a name for herself
as one of the biggest fashion bloggers
around with her fashion centric website
theglamandglitter.com.
With a flawless collection of outfits, which
are published on her blog on a day to day
basis, she has been featured in Elle, Marie
Claire and Vogue alike.
She admirably mixes high street, with
designer pieces and is a regular on the
London fashion scene. I was lucky enough
to have five minutes with her:
5 m inute S
With A
Super b l O gger
tA m A r A kA lini C
30
by SCA rlett dix O n
Page 31
What
initially
inspired you
to start blogging?
My blog is the product of my huge love
of fashion. In the beginning, the only real
reader was myself, it wasn’t really until
a year or so when people started
noticing it. However, the main
reason I blog is because I love
to and it will always stay
that way.
d o you have any tips
for aspiring fashion
bloggers, especially
with regards to
photography?
My top tip is to know your
lighting. Even if you own the
best camera ever, the lighting
has to be right for those photos.
Practice, practice and practice.
Which are your top 5 ‘go to’
fashion brands?
I love mixing high street and designer, so
my favourite brands would be Zara, River
Island, Balenciaga, Chanel and Celine.
d o you have an interesting fact
about yourself that your blog
readers would be surprised
to hear?
I am very open about my life
on my blog, sharing little
anecdotes about my daily
antics in each post, but
a lot of readers get very
surprised when they find
out that I am actually a
pharmacist by profession,
or by degree in fact!
i absolutely love your
style, it is glamorous
and chic but still
appears relaxed! d o you
have any style inspirations
or icons that you base your
style on at all?
I get inspiration from anything and
everything really. I can see a biscuit
wrapper and get inspired by the colour
combination, but over the years I have
developed my own style which is mix of
classic and trendy. However
I do love the style of
and am inspired
by fashionistas
such as Olivia
Palermo,
Miranda Kerr,
Caroline Isa.
d o your
family and
friends
know about
your blog?
What have
their reactions
been?
They know all about it
now, in fact my sister is my photographer
and my boyfriend also helps me with my
photographs, however initially I didn’t tell
anyone about my blog for the first year, as
I was scared people might think it was a
stupid waste of time.
Page 32
d o you have a favourite
opportunity that has been
presented to you as a result
of your blog?
Attending New York Fashion
Week was positively the best
experience of my life. Everything
about it - the energy, the vibe, the
mood and of course, the fashion
is what kept me moving for 7
days with barely any sleep. Even
when I think about it I get excited!
As a blogger myself, i
know that sometimes
blogging feels like (and is)
a 24/7 job, although never
a chore. d o you agree with
this?
Blogging is a never ending job,
there are emails, comments,
replying to your readers, to
brands, social media accounts,
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and
no matter how many hours you
spend working on everything, you
never really seem to be on top
of it all. However, as with many
other bloggers, I enjoy it - so
like you said, it never feels like
a chore. But it is certainly never
ending.
Where do you see yourself
and your blog in five years
time?
I am hoping to move forward
and progress but where to, I have
no idea. So far my journey in
the world of blogging has been
full of surprises and unexpected
outcomes, I hope it keeps
pleasantly surprising me, via the
fashion industry.
Visit Tamara’s blog
theglamandglitter.com
Page 34
pit C her hit C hin
Now within it’s third week of running,
the new Pitcher & Piano in Hitchin
is attracting more customer from the
surrounding area as news of it’s opening
spreads. Having visited the venue for
a meal on Saturday, I have plenty of
thoughts that I thought I would share.
For those that don’t know, the new
Pitcher & Piano is located in the
decedent Corn Exchange located in
Hitchin’s market square. The site was
previously home to Que Pasa that had
gone down hill having picked up a bad
reputation towards the end of it’s tenure.
As they say, out with the old and in with
the new. The good thing is Pitcher &
Piano have totally updated the interior
and exterior of the building taking what
is an essentially perfect building and
adding some subtle touches such as the
amazing selection of lanterns above the
dinning area, the vintage stalls at the
entrance and of course, the piano.
The bar area has remained the same
and is well staffed so there should be
no long waits for drinks if you are not
eating.
Open from 10.30am, Pitcher & Piano is
big on breakfasts and serves a whole
host of dishes, including The Big or
Veggie Breakfast, smoked salmon with
scrambled eggs and muesli with Greek
yoghurt and berry compote, all served
alongside a fantastic selection of freshly
made juices, smoothies and non-
alcoholic cocktails.
r e S t A ur A nt A nd b A r revie W
34
Page 35
Come lunch and dinner choose from an
enticing mix of grazers and flatbreads
including chicken and chorizo skewers,
salt and pepper calamari and pulled
pork flatbread.
Heartier mains include steaks, gourmet
burgers and sandwiches such as steak
and horseradish mayo baguette and
jerk spiced chicken breast served with
sweet potato chips and pineapple
salsa, as well as lighter salads.
A “Food We Love At The Moment”
section features fashionable favourites
such as American style hot dogs; spicy
fried buttermilk chicken with creamy
coleslaw and skinny fries; chorizo
hash with a runny poached egg and
the Wow Burger – stacked with a beef
burger, chicken breast, two rashes of
bacon, cheese and beef chilli and
served with chips - definitely not for the
fainthearted!
Finish with the hard-to-resist
homemade doughnuts sprinkled with
cinnamon and served with chocolate
and strawberry dips, an indulgent
chocolate brownie with peanut butter
ice cream or a devilish sticky toffee
pudding.
With killer cocktails and on-trend
dishes served in suitably stylish
surroundings, Pitcher & Piano is set to
make its mark in Hitchin. Open now.
Page 36
The award-winning Auberge du Lac
restaurant, located at the Brocket Hall estate
in Hertfordshire, is launching a three-course
Midweek Treat dinner menu reflecting
autumn’s rich harvest.
Available on Tuesdays to Thursdays from
September until the end of November
2013, guests can spend autumnal evenings
enjoying fresh, seasonal dishes in the five star
restaurant’s intimate lakeside setting.
The three-course menu, priced at £39.50
per person, has been designed by executive
head chef Phil Thompson to include the
finest local English produce, prepared with a
French twist.
Guests will also have the option to indulge
with an additional course of Ravioli of Native
Lobster and glass of Moët et Chandon
Champagne on arrival, for £55 per person.
Auberge du Lac hosts five classically
decorated private dining rooms, which can
seat from two to 30 guests, and is the perfect
setting to celebrate a special occasion.
Brocket Hall is set in 543 acres of stunning
parkland, complete with two championship
golf courses and luxury accommodation in
the estate’s Melbourne Lodge.
For more information on this offer or to book,
head to brocket-hall.co.uk
MIDWEEK TREAT ?
36
“Fresh, seasonal dishes in the
five star restaurant’s intimate
lakeside setting”
Page 37
“An excellent opportunity
for diners to experience our high
standard cuisine and service”
Page 38
A4e course helping young
unemployed people in Milton
Keynes gain jobs through
valuable work experience
A4e is helping young people in Milton
Keynes bolster their CVs and connect
with employers through valuable work
experience on a newly-designed course
which is already having great results.
Almost 80 customers aged 18-24 have
attended Shaping My Future courses in
Hampshire and Thames Valley since its
launch earlier this year and many have
earned themselves permanent paid jobs
as a direct result.
Another 43 modules are planned for
the area this year, offering places for
up to 430 unemployed young customers
across the region.
JobCentre Plus advisors work closely
with Work Programme trainers from
public service provider A4e to select
appropriate candidates who are then
invited to attend the courses, which
are run by the Jobcentre Plus Support
Contract (JCPSC).
Employers who have taken on graduates
of the four-week course range from
national companies such as Costa
Coffee and Whitbread Inns to small
businesses and local shops.
The course offers in-house training on
communication skills, CV writing and
confidence building, combined with two-
week work trials to help customers gain
quality experience with the real chance
of a job at the end.
BUILDING YOUR 38
Page 39
They are encouraged to looks at their
skills, qualification, interests and what
they can offer a potential employer and
to focus their job searches accordingly,
approaching employers themselves to
ask for work trials where possible.
Kasha Miller, 20, from Bletchley, Milton
Keynes, Bucks, won an office support
job at a solar panel energy company
after completing her course.
She said: “I was unemployed for seven
months after my apprenticeship came
to an end. I was applying for every job
going, up to 10 a week, but I wasn’t
getting anywhere. I got a couple of
temping jobs, one for two days and one
for four, and that was it.
“I had applied for the solar panel
company job before I started but what
sealed it was the work experience I got
there. It gave me a chance to show what
I could do and I got the job at the end.
“It feels great to be working and I love
the job. I enjoy getting up and going in
and I feel so much happier and more
relaxed in my free time because I don’t
have the stress of being unemployed and
having no money.”
Trainer Paul Birkett, of Milton Keynes
A4e, said: “Part of the success of the
course has been getting providers and
partners involved during the training.
For example, Costa managers have
come into the training, engaged with
our customers and given them advice
on what Costa are looking for in an
employee and how to apply for jobs
with them.”
Around two thirds of the jobseekers
who attended said it had improved their
confidence, communication skills and
improved their chances of getting a job.
The Jobcentre Plus Support Contract,
now in its fifth year of operation,
provides support and training for
unemployed customers who need more
help to undertake active and effective
job-seeking.
Working closely with JCP District offices,
A4e Contract Managers are able to help
develop training course appropriate to
the needs of the local labour market and
Jobcentre Plus customers.
Melanie Rignall Contract Manager in the
South East said: “Working closely with
JCP helps us to understand the needs of
their customers, which in turn helps us
to create courses that meet those needs.
Shaping My Future is an excellent
example of this partnership approach”
FUTURE TODAY
Page 41
if CA rl S berg
did S e ASO n S... Frankly, this is the season that every
supporter in the land has dreamed
for. Expect Manchester United fans
who despite their general calm and
happiness about the appointment of
Moyes, are silently praying to Jesus,
Allah and Buddha himself that Moyes
does not cock it all up.
With the departure of S.A.F from
Old Trafford, there is no greater time for
the other teams that make up the ‘Top
Four’ to make a move to become the
Premiership’s new superpower.
Chelsea have their special one back,
Tottenham are spending money like it
is going out of fashion, Liverpool are
spending wisely and Arsenal are doing
what they do best, making and saving
it. Let’s not forget that other team from
Manchester described as the noisy
neighbours.
With most clubs having notched up
two matches already and the transfer
window about to slam shut, there is a lot
of shrewd business to be done. The only
problem is no one is doing big business.
Manchester City highlighted the budgets
they are working with by getting in
Jesus, Fernandinho, Negredo and more.
Chelsea have nicked Willian ahead of
Tottenham who themselves have bought
in Soldado and Paulinho but questions
are being asked about Moyes’ ability to
bring in big names after unsuccessfully
trying to raid his old club for Baines and
Fellani.
A bigger failure in the transfer market
has been Arsene Wenger but then
again, is this anything new? £40million
and a pound was rightfully deemed
an insult by Rodgers and Liverpool. But
Arsene is known for finding a bargain
which he will do. It’s the Arsene way.
Page 42
th R ee big t R a N s F e R s ...
a N d a R se N al still W o N’ t spe N d
42
This year’s transfer spending has been
somewhat overshadowed by three truly
‘Blockbuster moves’ that at this moment
have not gone through. Bale is almost a
Galáctico and it will great to see him and
Ronaldo fighting over free kicks. Is he as
good as the original galácticos of Zidane
and Figo? Only time will tell.
The next blockbuster move that will
probably not happen but is still being
talked about is Wayne Rooney heading
down the M6 to Stamford Bridge. Having
already told Sir Alex Ferguson that he
is interested in a move, it is no surprise
that Rooney does not want to link up with
Moyes.
Rooney’s autobiography accused Moyes
of forcing him out of Goodison and also
leaking the story to the press. The two
went to court over the allegations but it
ending up being settled out of court with
an apology and damages. Not a great
way to start a relationship.
Moving on to another strained
relationship, Liverpool and Uruguayan
Suarez are at odds over a potential move
away from Anfield. Let’s be real from the
start, Suarez will not be going to Arsenal.
Suarez is no doubt interested in playing
in the Champions League, which player
is not but a move to London will not get
him away from the British press which he
claims has it in for him. He seems to have
forgotten the club stood by him after his
racism storm with Evra and the biting of
Ivanovic. Liverpool need Suarez and even
though he doesn’t know it, Suarez needs
Liverpool.
sua R e Z
Page 43
“£86 millio N F o R o N e playe R could o N ly be co N side R ed
stupid W he N you look at spai N’ s youth u N employme N t
F igu R e o F 55%”
R oo N ey
bale
Page 44
gA me
S et
m A t C h
Page 46
It’s a great way to stay fit
and work off the day
Tell us what tennis means to you #TennisIs
Find out where you can play at
www.tennisinmiltonkeynes.com
Page 47
There are places for you to pick up a
racket and have fun with a range of tennis
activities at clubs across Milton Keynes,
regardless of age, ability or previous
experience.
Last week in MK we had a super cute
three year old playing mini tennis at one
of our clubs at the same time as a few
golden oldies playing short tennis at
Woughton Leisure Centre, while a group of
competitive guys playing at one of our new
sessions after work.
Tennis is for everyone! If like me you
played a bit of tennis when you were
younger (I was pretty rubbish and lost
more balls than I can remember) and now
and again, maybe during Wimbledon, you
think you’re the next Roger Federer then it’s
time to get back on court in MK!
Appreciating that not everyone wants
to join a club, although we have some
great clubs in the area, and people want
something casual where they can just rock
up and play and it’s not mega expensive,
we’ve developed a load of new sessions
for you in MK.
Have you heard of Cardio Tennis? Cardio
Tennis is a high intensity workout where
it’s all about burning calories and having
fun on court. It’s perfect for people that
enjoy the gym or love keeping fit and the
best thing about it is that you don’t need
to be an expert (although some of us think
we are) because it doesn’t matter where
the ball goes. Imagine a circuit class with
a tennis element and you have Cardio
Tennis. Cardio Tennis burns over 600
calories in a session and is great for a
whole body workout.
I tried the session at David Lloyd in MK a
few weeks ago and I absolutely loved it!
It’s one of those sessions that pushes you
hard but you don’t realise it because there
is so much going on and it’s great fun.
The new Cardio Tennis sessions at
Woughton Leisure Centre are really
popular with their staff and customers.
One of the reception staff tried it out and
told me ‘I was buzzing all afternoon after
the session. I really enjoyed it and told so
many people to come along and try it out’.
“ t enni S i S n O t ju S t A S p O rt
f O r the lu C ky fe W W h O get
t O pl A y it pr O fe SS i O n A lly
O n A W eek t O W eek b AS i S ...”
Page 48
This is the standard response from one of
the classes so if you haven’t tried it then
give it a go.
Another one of my favourites that
we’ve just started is Short t ennis .
Everyone had a go at this at some point
when they were younger and because it’s
on a smaller court with a sponge ball, its
so easy to pick up and the games get very
fast and furious, very quickly!
I popped along to the Short Tennis session
at Woughton Leisure Centre on Sunday
morning and dragged one of my friends
with me. To give you a bit of background
information, my friend is a very good
tennis player and used to play at National
level. While sitting at Queens, she casually
mentioned about the time when she had
last played there.
I’m sure she thought Short Tennis would
be a bit too soft and fluffy for her and not
competitive enough, but she loved it and
left the session thinking who she could
bring along with her next week. t he
sessions are so cheap at just £3
per person for the hour and each
session is led by a tennis coordinator to
help rotate games and ensure every gets a
good game.
For those of us who actually recognise that
we’re not the next Federer we’re running
6-week courses to fast track your learning
and get you playing a full game quickly.
t he courses take you through the
basics of the game , such as serving,
forehand, backhand, and volleys, and are
really good fun.
Most people who attend these courses get
the bug and end up hiring courts with their
fellow apprentices so they can practise
their newly learned skills. t he coaches
that we have in MK are fantastic
and are delivering really high quality
coaching sessions.
If you’d like to know more about tennis
in MK please visit the website for more
information www.tennisinmiltonkeynes.com
or follow us on twitter @TennisInMK.
For tennis in Bedford please visit
www.tennisinbedford.com
Page 49
Our editorial team were able to catch
up with two hard working and energetic
tennis coaches Sebastian Callcut and
Josh Golding to talk about the benefits of
picking of up a racket.
h ow did you get started?
[SC] Just family. My uncle was a chairman
at a tennis club in Hemel Hempstead and
my parents played too. [JG] It was the
same for me. All my family played so I just
picked it up.
h ow would you describe yourself
in three words?
[JG] Determined, competitive and easy
going. [SC] Extroverted, social and
competitive. I would say all coaches and
tennis players are extroverts.
Aside from the health benefits,
what other positives can be
gained?
If you start young enough, you end up
forming teams when you arrange hits, play
doubles, tournaments etc and that allows
you to build your character and learn team
skills. Unlike in other sports, there are not
ten other people on the pitch to help you
so you learn to deal with problems for
yourself.
What advice would you give to
someone looking to start playing
tennis?
[SC} I would probably recommend the
tennis express where you start on a smaller
court and meet people with the same
experience. If you have never played
before, going on a full size court can be
intimidating.
If you are going to join a club or league,
it would best if you take a couple of mates
along with you to make it a social activity
you can all get involved with.
[JG] With that said, you can have people
who are a similar standard to you. If you
get someone who is not as good as you
and you keep winning, there is no fun in
that. Also if you keep losing all the time,
that’s not that much fun either.
getting
S t A rted
reg A rdle SS O f y O ur A ge
O r level O f fitne SS , y O u
CA n pi C k up y O ur r AC ket
A nd g O .
Page 52
What experiences have you taken
from playing tennis?
[JG} Independence. Going away for
matches and organising everything you
need from equipment to hits gives you
independence and self confidence. You
can talk to many tennis coaches and we
are all up ourselves so confidence too.
What motivates you to turn up and
coach?
[SC] Just the fact I have loved tennis all my
life. I had a coach called Gary Wakefield
in Milton Keynes who coached me for
£1/£2 per hour and it wasn’t even his full
time job. So I kept going back and I just
want to give that back and hopefully if
they get better and go away feeling better
about themselves, that’s great.
[JG] I think I was a good player and I
want to give those I train the chance to be
even better than me. From the moment they
come in the door to an hour later, I want
them to be feel better about themselves.
Who’s the best to watch?
[SC] It would have to be Roger Federer. At
this stage in his career, he is just beautiful
to watch but you got to love Rafa (Rafael
Nadal) as he is the ultimate professional
but he is just makes the game look like he
is not even playing it. I would watch him
all day.
[JG] In the past, I would say Pete Sampras
because he change the way the game is
played and his serve was ridiculous. In
today’s game, I have to agree with Seb.
Serena Williams is also amazing as she
can win whenever she wants. There is no
one who can get near her. If she wants to
win, she will win.
Sebastian Callcut works for
TennisWorks at Stony Stratford Tennis club
coaching all ages from toddlers to adults.
Josh Golding is a level 2 coach working
in Milton Keynes with Stuart Lovell Tennis.
Further info can be found online www.tennisinmiltonkeynes.com
Page 53
P R E M I U M S P O R T S W E A R
B A A C L O T H I N G . C O M
Page 54
ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC // TELEVISION // RADIO // SCORSESE
Page 55
“ i just wanted to be an
o rdinary parish priest”
If you still have not seen the trailer for Martin
Scorsese‘s new film, The Wolf of Wall Street,
you need to get online now. It might be one
of the year’s best trailers by the time 2013 is
all said and done.
This edit struts along to the tune of ‘Black
Skinhead‘ from Kanye West and flashes all
the symbols of excess you’d expect from a
movie about a stock trader who made nearly
a million dollars a week when he was only
26.
There are cars, boats, women, drugs, parties,
guns, cash… and Matthew McConaughey
just stealing the end of the trailer right out
from under Leonardo DiCaprio.
It’s a bit like watching Baz Luhrmann’s The
Great Gatsby by way of Oliver Stone’s
Wall Street. That said, DiCaprio is definitely
the star here playing Jordan Belfort, whose
meteoric rise and dizzying fall inspired the
film. It’s weird to be at a point where it’s a
minor stretch to see Leonardo DiCaprio play
a 26-year old (he’s 38) but if the movie has
this sort of energy it’ll probably work out just
fine. This is his fifth film with Scorsese, and
we’ll be watching closely to see how their
partnership has evolved. Below are our top
ten Scorsese movies of all time.
1. Goodfellas
2. Casino
3. Raging Bull
4. Gangs of New York
5. Mean Streets
6. The Departed
7. Taxi Driver
8. Cape Fear
9. For The Colour of Money
10. The King of Comedy
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
Page 56
Season 1 | Channel 5
Before it even aired a single episode,
Under the Dome already had quite the
head start, as the new CBS drama has
the benefit of highly recognizable names
built right into its DNA. For starters, the
“event” series is based on the Stephen
King novel of the same name (King
also serves as a producer) and is being
executive produced by Steven Spielberg.
That right there is enough pedigree to
make any other series a little jealous in
terms of marketability. But Under the
Dome is also being shepherded by award-
winning comic book and former Lost
writer Brian K. Vaughan – which should
please fans of genre storytelling and help
to explain the Lost-y vibe that the show
gives off during its gripping and well-
crafted premiere.
For those unfamiliar with the novel on
which it is based, the series depicts the
residents of Chester’s Mill – a small,
tranquil town in the Northeastern corner
of the United States – who have the
misfortune of being cut off from the rest
of the world after an enormous, invisible
and seemingly impenetrable barrier
covers their little burg.
Cars, barns, cows and people unlucky
enough to have been straddling the
perimeter wind up with chunks (or
worse) on either side of the barrier.
Birds fall from the sky with broken
necks, while cars and planes violently
crash into the invisible wall; even
sound is unable to pass through the
mysterious obstruction.
‘Season 1 is currently airing on Channel 5
and available to watch on demand.’
IT'S NOT LOST... UNDER THE DOME
56
Page 57
#trendlifemusic
t oddla t & Roses Gabor
PA nd ORA’S BOX
A quick overview of what is getting heavy rotation in our office
Following on from the Rudimental and
Bipolar Sunshine collaboration, Bacardi
have set another duo the challenge of
writing, recording and releasing an
original track together.
DJ and producer Toddla T has joined
forces with the rising Roses Gabor to take
part in Bacardi Beginnings.
Bacardi Beginnings is a creative project
that gives emerging talent the chance to
work with established artists.
The track titled ‘Pandora’s Box’ (Bacardi
Beginnings) will be released through
social media, but with a twist.
The first beat of the track will be released
and for each Tweet and Like the track
receives, more will be revealed.
The project then opens up for budding
producers to rework the track in a bid to
win a production masterclass with Toddla
T, remix software and for the track to be
played at the next Bacardi Beginnings
event.
JUS t BLAZ e & BAAU e R F t JAY Z
HIGHER
J A ne LL e M O náe F t e RYKA h BA d U
Q.U.E.E.N
Page 58
58 iggy AzAleA
Page 59
Iggy Azalea’s distinctive tracks have
become a regular addition to every club
across the world over the past few months
and ‘Change Your Life’ is about to join the
list.
Earlier this year Iggy Azalea stormed
into the limelight with the huge success
of warm-up single ‘Work’ which gave a
gentle nod to Iggy’s previous cult-classic
mixtapes and rapidly accumulated
millions of hits around the world.
More recently Iggy made her mark with
top 15 single ‘Bounce’, fuelled with a
thumping beat, pristine hooks and laced
with Iggy’s signature crisp flow it rapidly
infiltrated the hottest dancefloors across
the globe.
Iggy’s newest offering ‘Change Your Life’
is her biggest song yet.
Produced by The Messengers (Christina
Aguilera, Chris Brown, Pitbull), it
showcases the full range of her talent –
blistering verses and a gigantic hook set
to dominate the airwaves over the coming
months. On top of that, none other than
man of the moment T.I. has come on
board and delivered a second verse in his
own irresistible style.
Following her support dates with
legendary rap star Nas, Iggy has played
to packed out tents and stages at various
festivals such as Glastonbury, The Great
Escape and Wireless Festival.
Iggy has also recently announced
the incredible news that she will be
accompanying Beyonce on the Australian
leg of her worldwide Mrs Carter Show,
bringing her unrelenting energy, attitude
and confidence back to her home country.
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
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swifty
little
one
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By Adam Tudor-Lane | @car_witter
Ok it may not be a hot hatch in terms of BHP; the Swift Sport comes with 136hp so
it’s more of a warm hatch. At £13,500, it’s a bargain for the money. One thing I
love about the Swift Sport is the fact that there is only one trim level, no long list of
never ending options, just one spec and that’s it. Much like the Model T – you can
have it in any colour as long as it’s black!
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The Swift is a difficult car to look at, from
some angles it looks squat and low, while
from others it just looks tall and rather
upright in its stance. All round I think
it looks very smart and modern. From
the front, you instantly notice the black
headlights, along with anthracite trim that
sets the Sport apart from other models.
This second-generation Swift is much
curvier than its predecessor, the way
the rear lights mould into the boot line
looks fantastic, it mimics the curves in the
headlights and bonnet. At the rear, there is
a deep roof spoiler and diffuser; with twin
exhaust pipes, this adds to the cars sporty
nature. 17” multi-spoke alloys finish the car
off nicely.
This is where the “Hot hatch perfection”
comes in to play. With only 136hp a
0-60 time is a reasonable 8.7 seconds,
however with the car only weighing
1,045kg it feels far faster!
The VVT engine in this car is simply
incredible, up until around 4000 revs the
Swift seems a little slow and mundane….
but once you let the revs past that magic
4000rpm you are greeted with a racy
exhaust note and lots of acceleration!
Even at 50mph, in third gear, you can
put your foot to the floor and be pushed
back in your seat. Once you get used to
this high rev power you can really have
some fun! The only way I can describe the
engine is a Honda VTec, its very similar in
the way the power delivery seems to come
from nowhere in the higher revs.
Torque wise, the Swift has 160Nm, which
is pretty standard for 1.6 petrol, it’s mind-
boggling where the performance comes
from without a turbo! The chassis is truly
great as well; it takes all manner of corners
pretty much perfectly flat every time. There’s
no fighting for grip, or squirming, it just
goes through and carry’s on.
Even accelerating through a slow corner
in a low gear, you get no tyre scrabble;
it simply grips and pulls away. The tyres
are quite skinny being 195/45/R17’s but
this doesn’t seem to have had an adverse
effect.
It’s such massive fun to drive! I had a smile
on my face every time I took the car out
over the week I had it. The Swift will egg
you on with its eager engine, pushing you
to try the next corner that little bit faster,
and with it welcomes you with yet more
grip, and more power!
Page 63
Once you have the car revving into the 6000 mark the noise is one of just raw power,
I found myself muting the stereo a lot of the time, just to hear the engine and exhaust.
On the motorway the car is a little bit loud, if you are trying to have a conversation with
someone you find yourself raising your voice slightly, but the noise isn’t too intrusive.
If you need to overtake in the Swift, you will have to shift down two gears to find the
correct power needed, but once there it pulls well and kept up with the pace of things.
The brakes are sharp and responsive, but when under harder braking, it felt like
the car took a little longer than I expected it to come to a stop. Especially
as it is such a light car! Ride is firm but not at all crashy; it’s more than
comfortable enough for every day driving.
Inside the Suzuki you immediately notice how hugging
the seats are, they are deep and hold you perfectly.
Making you instantly feel connected and part of
the car. Standard sport trim means you get
some excellent kit, including Bluetooth
hands free, iPod connection,
climate control, keyless
entry, push-button start,
folding mirrors,
and cruise
control.
For £13,500, that level of kit is just
amazing! Externally, even HID’s (with
washer jets) and Fog lamps are standard
on the Sport. Some of the plastics inside
are a little hard, but they don’t look cheap
and are well textured to give a modern feel
to the dash.
All of the switchgear and stereo was solid,
which added to the well-built quality feel
of the car. There were no cabin shakes,
creaks, or rattles when going along rough
roads either. Another thing to mention is
how good the standard stereo is, clear
and crisp when turned up loud, with a
decent amount of bass.
The boot is rather small with a deep lip to
it, but you aren’t buying this car for its big
load capacity! Rear seats are very comfy,
and springy, with enough headroom for
an adult. Legroom is ok too as long as you
don’t have a six footer up front.
There are two quirks I found with the
car…. when locking, the door mirrors do
not fold automatically, but there is a button
to fold them inside the car, by the window
switches. It didn’t quite make sense to me,
as they are normally automatic on locking
with most cars?
Page 64
The other thing was the driver’s seat did
not have a latch to pull the seat forward for
passengers to get into the back. Only the
passenger seat had this lever.
You can still push the driver’s seat forward,
(by pulling the lever used to adjust the back
rest) but it just seemed strange one side
having it, and one not!
Conclusion
If you want a nippy, engaging, drivers car,
that you can still pootle around in every
day, AND return good MPG, then this is
definitely the car for you.
It’s easily fast enough to have lots of fun in,
the engine and exhaust note will make you
smile whenever you hit the high revs. Inside
is comfortable, and has oodles of kit, most,
not found on cars at this price.
If you are thinking of buying one of the
other hot hatches out there, I urge you to
take a Swift Sport on a test drive before
you commit yourself to any of them!
The Suzuki Swift Sport should be THE
benchmark, in handling and setup; that all
manufacturers of hot hatches should strive
for!
By Adam Tudor-Lane | @car_witter
Page 66
Volksw agen g roup uk
looking for recruits with
dri V ing ambition
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Volkswagen Group UK is looking to fill some
20 new Field Force job vacancies. With
opportunities available across the country,
Volkswagen Group UK is searching for
experienced managers and sales people
who are looking for a dynamic career
journey.
Employing over 800 people nationwide,
Volkswagen Group UK is looking to attract
confident, enthusiastic and experienced
talent to its growing business. Successful
recruits will have the opportunity to work
across some of the UK’s best known and
top-selling car brands; Volkswagen, Audi,
SEAT, ŠKODA and Volkswagen Commercial
Vehicles.
This creates opportunities to work across
different brands, as well as potential
opportunities in the wider Volkswagen Group
with its aspirational brands such as Bentley,
Porsche, Ducati and Bugatti, as well as in
Volkswagen Financial Services. This range
of brands is unequalled in the motor industry.
With one in every five vehicles sold in the
UK being a Volkswagen Group UK vehicle,
the organisation is calling for people who
want to be part of a successful sales team.
The company is offering a range of Field
Force career opportunities spanning the UK,
including area sales managers; area service
and parts managers; area fleet managers;
and regional and national sales, parts and
service and fleet sales managers.
The company is keen to search outside of
the traditional automotive industry, looking at
talent within retail, and FMGC – anywhere
where there is strong brand experience and
customer-orientated attitudes.
Fiona Roberts, HR Director of Volkswagen
Group UK, comments; “Volkswagen Group
is the second largest automobile company
in the world, making our global strength and
reach incredible.
We have strong, recognisable brands and
are looking for the brightest talent that can
help to grow and develop our portfolio and,
in turn, develop and grow with us.
“We are constantly seeking to improve
customer satisfaction and deliver the best
possible service, and for this we need
excellent people who are dedicated to
delivering their best. As a result, we ensure
that our people are not only rewarded and
recognised, but we also give them the best
possible career journey that takes them
places – literally.”
Volkswagen Group employees have the
opportunity to work across its diverse
portfolio of automotive brands, giving
them experience across a wide variety of
companies, departments and locations in the
UK and globally.
Volkswagen Group UK, ranked in the top 25
companies as a Great Place to Work, prides
itself as having a competitive and attractive
employee package, which starts with a new
car every six months and includes a range of
flexible benefits covering finance, health and
lifestyle areas and even the opportunity to
buy extra holiday.
Candidates can find out more about job
opportunities at Volkswagen Group UK by
visiting www.vwgontheroad.co.uk
Page 68
G re G rutherford’s
ju M p into fashion
Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford
follows up on his success on the field
by launching his own clothing range.
c hrist M as already?
We get creative and look at the best
presents you can get with £5, £20, £100
and £1,000. And then we give three away.
console wars
With the new xBox and PS4 hitting the
stores any day now, we take a look at the
best the gaming industry has given us.
plus our usual excitin G
fashion & lifestyle news
next m O nth
in trendlife ...
