Welcome
Looking ahead to a lean and healthy year
IT is a fair bet that a good number of people reading this have set themselves a new year’s resolution.
With the excesses of Christmas – often accompanied by inflated
waistlines – behind us, chatter at this time of the year often turns to how to lose those excess pounds.
Time magazine last year claimed that losing weight and getting fit is the most commonly broken of all new year’s resolutions, and we at MKL are here to help, with much of our editorial devoted to healthy eating and getting the ideal body.
We provide tips on consuming nutritious food and introducing
children to the joys of wholesome cooking as well as a guide on i-Lipo – an alternative to liposuction.
Our reporter Peter Erlam never asked Leeds Castle chief
executive Victoria Wallace her resolution for the new year, but judging by the content of his interview with her in the following two pages, it is fair to say that making a success of the castle’s privileged link to this summer’s London Olympic Games would figure highly.
The castle has been chosen to host the Olympic Flame on July 19 as it makes its way to London, from Dover via Maidstone. Victoria is hoping the once-in-a-lifetime occasion can help fund a long-term stonework programme.
This year also sees the return of My Kent Big Weekend, which
offers residents the chance to visit a wide range of attractions for free. For details on how to get involved, turn to page 10.
The town of Faversham and village of West Malling are the two
places featured in our ’24 Hours in…’ section, with 2012 marking the latter’s timely link to none other than the Beatles.
All of us at MKL would like to wish you a happy new year. Stephen Eighteen Hitting Mid Kent towns
Mid Kent Living is published every three months with a free circulation in Maidstone, Medway, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling, Ashford and Sittingbourne. It is available at pick-up points throughout the area. Subscription copies are posted (£6 annually).
Mid Kent Living is available at an increasing number of pick-up points. Call 01622 630330 for details.
Day Trips
Wed 1st Feb Mystery drive & pub lunch
Sun 12th Feb Benington snowdrops & Stevenage Wed 15th Feb The Pudding Club
Sat 18th Feb Calais & Citi Europe by P&O ferries special deal Sun 26th Feb Sussex drive & traditional sunday lunch Wed 7th Mar Eastbourne midweek Fri 9th Mar
Sat 17th Mar Thriplow Daffodil festival
Holidays9th Mar 19th Mar
20th Feb 25th Mar 10th Apr
Tue 27th Mar Big cats at Wildlife Heritage Foundation 4 days Cricket St Thomas Warner
5 daysThorsby Hall Warner
5 days Bournemouth fantasy world cruise 5 days North Wales Isle of Anglesey 5 days West Country rail & sail
Begonia View, The Street, Ryarsh,West Malling, Kent ME19 5LQ Tel: 01732 845656
www.brooklinecoaches.co.uk
Mid Kent Living 3
The team Mid Kent Living is published by Mail Publications Ltd
(which also publishes the Downs Mail newspaper), Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT. Tel: 01622 630330 Fax 01622 631131 email
info@downsmail.co.uk
Chairman: Claire Procter Editor: Stephen Eighteen Sales Manager: Bill Brett Advertising Sales: Tel 01622 630330
£21.00 £21.00 £28.50 £19.50 £21.00 £13.00
Bricklane Music Hall St Patrick days show including lunch£45.00 £22.00 £35.00
£225.00 £265.00 £239.00 £259.00 £349.00
www.downsmail.co.uk
Contents
Page 4-5 Interview with Victoria Wallace
Page 6-9 Editor’s choice Page 10-11 Kents Big Weekend
Page 12-15 24 hours in Faversham and West Malling
Page 17 Kids - Playtime at Bedgebury
Page 18 At the Theatre Page 19-21 Love is in the air Page 24-27 New year, New you Page 28-29 Education Page 31-33 Senior Living Page 34-42 Homes & Gardens Page 43 Competitions
Established 1939
Day Excursions & Short breaks
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