July 2009 Newsletter

The AboutMyGeneration July Newsletter

Information, Inspiration, Motivation

Hello and welcome to the AboutMyGeneration July Newsletter

June was another bumper month with a large number of new members signing up to AMG, so a very warm welcome to you. Again this month we have plenty of new articles and competitions for you.

There have been some very interesting posts on the forum this month, from the funny to the serious, so why not join in and have your say? You will always get a response and it may be that some of the answers will help you with a problem or issue that is bothering you. To go to the forum click here...

Best wishes

Peter Morrell - The AMG Team

peter@aboutmygeneration.com
www.aboutmygeneration.com

Regulars	New this Month	Competitions
Editor's Diary Booze Newz Food Newz AMG Theatre Club NEW - Tried and Tested - Beauty Products Follow AMG on Twitter - www.twitter.com/amgmembers	AMG test drives the Proton Gen-2 Dual Fuel Car The AMG Crocus Walk - The Final Report Napa Restaurant - A stylish and relaxing Chiswick eaterie John Carter meets Orang-Utans in Borneo Focus on Nambia - A Unique Travel Destination Keep your sight healthy with help from Bausch and Lomb Report on a visit to Denbies Wine Estate - Dorking Tips on holiday safety from Sue Ockwell of AITO A Review of Shuropody - Everything for healthy feet Co-operative Xest launches the 'Aids for Daily Living' Web Site	Co-operative Xest Cholesterol Monitoring System Tickets to the World of Top Gear at Beaulieu Young Victoria DVDs Grow your own Drugs DVDs Apollo 11 - A Night to Remember Kings College Choir CDs Estroven Nighttime Tablets - Menopause Support

New this Month

The Editor's Diary

Updated 3rd July 2009

In this edition, she is the victim of two cases of mistaken identity, the first was of the 'You're that woman off the telly' variety but the second is much more sombre. She experiences the ultimate version of being 'kept in the dark' and gains a new admiration for David Blunkett. It was then on to a Christamas Party, yes in June and just to complete the sense of unreality the meal was cooked by a very famous Chinaman. Doing the rounds, there was an evening out in a place that sounded like a womb, she was on the red carpet but didn't get an award, spent the afternoon in Champagne country and almost sailed up Lower Regent Street. There was a quick peek at the shrine to a dearly departed and on the home front her daughter's wedding dress moves her to tears... after looking at the price tag.

To read the diary click here...

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Carters World

Orang-Utans in Borneo

Well-known travel writer and former presenter of BBC TV's Holiday programme and Wish You Were Here, John Carter takes us on a journey through the jungles of Borneo, meeting a few orang-utans enroute.

Although he is happy seeing the orang-utans in the Rehabilitation centre his intrepid companions wanted to see them in the wild, so John goes on a journey of discovery into the jungle

Click here... to read about his adventure

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The AMG Crocus Walk

Walking with a Purpose - The Final Report

On Saturday 23rd May, we held the first AMG Crocus walk to raise funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and to celebrate the memory of Jean Gooch, a dear friend of the AMG team that we lost to breast cancer last year. And we are delighted to say the walk was a great success.

Thitry people united in a common purpose, 3 dogs, a sunny spring day and some stunning countryside made the five-mile trek both fun and rewarding. We had set a target of raising £1000, and we are pleased to say that the total raised so far is £1566. So many thanks to everyone who took part or donated. It's still not too late to make a contribution, the donor page is still open at www.justgiving.com/amgcrocus

To read more and to see the pictures click here...

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The AMG Threatre Club

The AboutMyGeneration Theatre Club

This month's London theatre offers include our summer DINE FOR FREE promotion, offering thousands of free meals in West End restaurants when booking tickets to a show. Offers include tickets to HAIRSPRAY and a meal for only £28.50 and tickets to THRILLER LIVE and a meal for only £24.95.

Also this month save £22.50 on new rock 'n' roll musical DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS at the Savoy Theatre, enjoy half price tickets to dramatic new musical TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN at the Comedy Theatre, plus big savings on a wealth of musicals and plays in London.

Click here... to find out how you can see these great West End shows at bargain prices

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Napa Restaurant Review

Peter Morrell, Food and Drink Editor at AMG checks out this stylish Chiswick eaterie

It was the hottest day of the year and, after a sweltering tube journey to Gunnersbury, the Chiswick Moran Hotel, a stones throw from the station, beckoned like an oasis, complete with palms, in the desert. Fortunately this was no mirage as Peter was heading to the Hotels Napa Restaurant for dinner

Retro chic decor, an eclectic modern European menu with a well matched wine list and good service all add up to create a relaxed and leisurely dining experience.

Click here... to read the full review

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Safety on Holiday

In the wake of the deaths of two children on holiday in Corfu, is it possible to make holidays 100 per cent safe?

"Probably not, in the way that life at home can never be 100 per cent safe", says Sue Ockwell, speaking on behalf of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO, www.aito.co.uk).

There are some sensible precautions that you can take when going on holiday, however and Sue has produced a list of practical no nonsense tips that well help you keep both you and your family safe and healthy during you holiday

To read the guide to safety on holiday click here...

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Best Foot Forward

Chris Hurley reviews Shuropody, an Aladdin's Cave of things to keep you feet healthy and beautiful

"I had never set foot inside a chiropodists practice but, in readiness for the sandal season, I popped into a Shuropody store for some expert treatment".

To read her verdict click here...

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Follow what is happening on AboutMyGeneration with Twitter

AMG now has its own Twitter page so you can see the minute that Competitions, Discounts, Offers and articles are published.

The AMG Twitter Address is www.twitter.com/amgmembers Nivea

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Tried and Tested - Beauty Products

At AMG office a positive mountain of stuff arrives for us to try every day.

Here is a recent round-up of the products that we have particularly liked. This month we are looking at products to protect and enhance our skin during the summer months.

To read more click here...

Food Newz

Peter Morrell, Food and Drink Editor of AMG reports on all things foodie

Updated 3rd July 2009

Welcome to Food Newz, the column that covers everything foodie. In this edition, a great British food, named loosely after an eccentric photographer, has a new set of clothes and some brand new twists. And if the Met Office says rain and the sky says sun you can be easing al fresco in minutes without any pre-panning. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, are all Greek letter but the important one is Omega and it's not just 3 that you need in your diet and going to pot could be the solution. It's a case of three for tea with these new visitors from China, and much nearer home but north of the border is a very versatile fellow that can be eaten more than once a year. Some restaurant news, including one that you will never saw the inside of and finally a bean that you have never heard of wrapped up in something scrumptious.

Click here... to read Food Newz and find out more

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Booze Newz

Peter Morrell, Food and Drink Editor of AMG reports on the latest liquid surprises and delights

Updated 1st July 2009

In this month's edition he is drinking like a fashionista with a highly sophisticated cocktail made, not by an imaginary rabbit, but with one of the UK's favourite drinks and also samples another two summer concoctions from an award winning mixologist that really are delicious. He is in Champagne country for a lunch on a wine estate and back home in time for tea, how did that happen? He recalls the River of No Return, not the 1954 version with Marilyn Monroe but the 2007 remake, shot on the M4. This season everything is coming up Rosés and he tries a spicy little number from down under. Named after some adventurous Rochdale lads who started co-operating in 1844, he meets a bubbly individual from an impeccable family and finally he manages to find his way around Scotland with the aid of a map that is like no

Click here... to read Booze Newz and find out more

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Living Life to the Full

co-operative Xest
Making life easier for you and your loved ones

co-operative Xest is a brand new web site and mail order service, launched by Southern co-operatives to bring together the very best in aids for daily living. It's a one stop-shop for a whole range of products that could make life so much easier for you, or the person you care for.

co-operative Xest introduced the service after extensive research showed that shopping for equipment to make life more independent and dignified can be a tough and negative experience.

To find out more about this service, which is endorsed by This Morning Agony Aunt Denise Robertson, click here...

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Proton Gen-2 ecoLogic

The lean, green, money saving machine

AMG has recently been test driving the Proton Gen-2 ecoLogic 1.6 GSX MT, a dual fuel car that offers a whole lot of benefits for those looking for comfortable and affordable motoring. This car will also keep your eco credentials firmly intact.

The overall conclusion is that if you want a car with a luxury spec, that is economic to run and fun to drive, whether its shopping or touring, then you should seriously consider the Proton GEN-2 ecoLogic.

Click here... to read the full review

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Denbies Wine Estate - Dorking, Surrey

Peter Morrell, Food and Drink Editor of AMG, lunches at Denbies, Englands largest vineyard, on a sunny summer afternoon

Somewhere between Leatherhead and Dorking on the A24 in Surrey Peter is unexpectedly transported to Champagne country in France. Rolling chalk hills, covered with regimented rows of vines, that surrounded a large and attractive, chateau style, winery. But in reality has lunch at Englands largest vineyard.

Denbies, with its 265 acres of vines, is three times bigger than any other vineyard in the U.K. is much more than just for lunch venue, it's a day out with something for all the family.

Click here... to find out more

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How to keep your sight healthy

Help from eye health company Bausch and Lomb

Many people will not be familiar with the term AMD, which stands for Age-Related Macular Degeneration. The macula is an oval yellow spot near the centre of the retina in the eye. Close to the centre of the macula is a large concentration of cone or light sensing cells that are responsible for the central area of vision and allow people to see fine detail. AMD occurs when these light-sensing cells in the central area of vision stop working and eventually die, this causes blurred vision and may lead to blindness.

There are steps that can be taken to avoid or minimise the effect of AMD and eye health company Bausch and Lomb has developed a range of supplements that will help to keep your eyes in good working order.

To find out more about how you can keep your eye sight healthy click here...

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Sossusvlei

Focus on Namibia

A unique travel experience

Namibia, in South-West Africa, is a destination that offers the experienced traveller a truly different experience. From the stark, lunar like landscapes of the Kalahari and Namib deserts through the coastal town of Swakopmund to the lush wetlands of the Caprivi Strip, the arm-like projection in the north-west of the country.

With twenty six parks and reserves abundant wildlife is one of Namiibia's greatest assets. Etosha National Park, in Northern Namibia, probably the best known parks, is home to 114 mammal species. Northwest of Etosha lies Kaokoland and Damaraland, world famous for the desert adapted rhino and elephant. Namibia also has the largest and healthiest population of cheetahs left in the world.

To read more about what Namibia has to offer click here...

Latest Competitions

This could save your life!

Win a Cholesterol Monitoring System

Keeping your cholesterol under control is a key aspect of maintaining your health, as high cholesterol can lead to heart disease, a stroke and even blindness.

So the Cholesterol Monitoring System from co-operative Xest is a great health gadget for testing your cholesterol levels where ever you are. It doesn't involve a journey to the hospital or queuing at the clinic and delivers your result in just two and a half minutes, And you can keep a check on your progress as it has a built-in memory that will store the 100 past test results.

AboutMyGeneration has teamed up with co-operative Xest to offer one lucky member the opportunity to win one of these great kits (Priced at £79.89) so that you can keep an eye on your cholesterol levels. For your chance to win click here...

Closes 7th August 2009

A Great family day out in the New Forest

Win tickets to see the World of Top Gear at Beaulieu

Looking for something new and exciting to do with the grandkids this summer? Look no further than Beaulieu, in the New Forest, Hampshire, where there is so much to do that the whole family will be delighted. Especially this year with the brand new World of Top Gear exhibition opening its doors at the National Motor Museum

The new exhibition at Beaulieu features a collection of the actual cars created by Top Gear presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, for some of their most ambitious challenges on the TV show over the years.

Just some of the vehicles that you will be able to see are the 'Double-Decker Cars', 'Home-made Police Cars', the 'Endurance BMW', 'Olympic Mini' and 'Anne Hathaway's Cottage' plus loads more that you will have to see to believe!

To find out how you can win a family ticket to enjoy all the attractions at Beaulieu click here...

Closes 31st July 2009

Win a copy of The Young Victoria

Starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend
Out on DVD 13 July 2009

The Young Victoria is a truly engaging and immensely enjoyable royal romance that features first rate casting and fine acting from an outstanding ensemble British cast headed by Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend.

Set for DVD release on 13 July 2009 by Momentum Pictures, The Young Victoria is a tour de force recreation of a largely unknown yet fascinating period of British history.

Awash with sumptuous settings and delightful costumes, this irresistible love story, featuring such an outstanding cast, will undoubtedly be crowned the home entertainment triumph of the summer. We have three copies of the Young Victoria DVD to give away.

To find out more and to enter click here...

Closes 31st July 2009

Grow your own Drugs

Win a copy of the DVD that will help you unleash the power of plants and soothe the symptoms of everyday ailments the natural way

Many people think of plants as purely ornamental, something to brighten up back gardens and window boxes, but there are many other uses for them. Ethnobotanist and gardener James Wong demonstrates how to grow and transform familiar plants into simple natural remedies that could help ease the symptoms of a variety of minor everyday ailments.

A delicious mix of gardening, cooking, health and beauty, Grow Your Own Drugs is packed with useful and practical information and gives viewers an insight into the science and history of plants used as natural remedies. We have five copies of this fascinating DVD to give away.

For more information click here...

Closes 2nd August 2009

The Sky At Night

Win a copy of Apollo 11 A night to remember

Those of us of a certain age will always remember that historical moment on July 20 1969 when Apollo 11 became the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon. Piloted by veteran astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, Apollo 11 took its place in history, as one small step was taken on the lunar surface. Introduced by legendary astronomer, writer and television presenter Sir Patrick Moore, the DVD release of The Sky At Night Apollo 11 A Night To Remember will be released on 6 July 2009.

We have three copies of this fascinating DVD to give away to AMG members.

For more information and for your chance to win click here...

Closes 31st July 2009

King's College Choir: England my England!

Kings College Choir King's College Choir: England my England!

Win a copy of their new album

To celebrate the release of the stunning new Choir of Kings College, Cambridge album England my England, we are giving you the chance to win your very own copy.

There is surely no more quintessentially English sound than that of the Choir of Kings College, Cambridge, and the true beauty of its unaccompanied voices can now be experienced through the new album, England my England, released by EMI Classics on 6th July 2009.

To find out how you can win this collection of essential English music click here

Closes 31st July 2009

Estroven Nighttime

Win a month's supply

Estroven Nighttime is a natural supplement containing a unique formula of isoflavones, herbs and vitamins to help support womens health before, during and after the menopause, especially at night, when sleep can be interrupted. We are offering five lucky members the chance to win a months supply of Estroven Nighttime.

To find out more and to enter the draw click here...

Closes 31st July 2009