Coffee Break Puzzle Page

Can you find all of the these words hidden in the grid?

Alexandrite Amber Amethyst Ametrine Aquamarine Citrine Diamond Emerald Garnet Iolite Jade Kunzite Lapis Lazuli Moonstone Morganite Opal Pearl Peridot Rose Quartz Ruby Sapphire Spinel Sunstone Tanzanite Topaz Tourmaline Turquoise Zircon

One gem is missing from the grid. For a bonus point, can you discover which one it is, and for double bonus points, what it used to be used for? For the answers please turn to P31

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Poetry Connect

Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council have invited everyone to get creative and write a poem on the theme of looking forward. All ages are welcome to join in land below is a selection from the poems that have been submitted already. If you would like to join in please email your poems to

bedfordshire.libraries@bedford.gov.uk

This isn’t a competition, just a creative outlet for you to connect and share during this unusual time.

A Stranger CalleD

By Bodhi Hughes (Age 8)

A stranger called this morning, dressed all in black and grey He put every sound into a bag, and carried them away The hum of the sliver fridge The ding of the microwave The popping of the tasty toast, As it comes out of the toaster The sucking of the hoover, As it eats up the dirty dust The purring of the old lovely cat The clicking of the TV remote The swishing of the bubbly bath water The flushing of the loo when dad is done The Pencil scribbling a wonderful poem The clock ticking loudly on my wall The lego clicking together as I build a 500 piece spaceship A stranger called this morning, He didn’t leave his name Left us only silence, the house will never be the same. Our Pub

By Ben Woodfine

We’ll soon be back at the bar after this time away, ordering our drinks with no further delay, The heart of our neighbourhood, our much loved home from home, It’s where we share a drink, a chat... sometimes a moan, Between those walls we share stories, true and fiction, And although at times there may be friction, We listen, learn, debate, and question, While enjoying every, single, lengthy, session, People come through that door for many reasons, For help, for comfort, for some discreet liaisons, For friendship, company, or time to themselves, To read the paper, or a book from the shelves, Old friendships continue while new ones begin, We know there’ll always be room at this inn, Some regulars have drunk here for generations, For our community this pub holds firm foundations, Bar staff guard secrets, share advice, and entertain, Get them a drink in, while they work they must refrain, They greet and serve us with a cheerful smile, Then gently tempt us to stay for a while, We are waiting to return, back to our pub, Our all-time favourite social hub, Don’t mess about once we’re allowed, Make mine a pint... it’s your round.

Time to Reflect

By Caroline Benbow-Hunt

Time to reflect, look up to the sky Make out some shapes as the clouds past by Can you see loved ones or spaces so deep? Maybe a time to all plant a seed

A pathway so high the steps are so steep Time to reflect and think of all others

We are all as one under sky, moon and sun Those that have all, those that have none The stillness not calm, but life carries on Birds are still singing, they have not gone We are all so lucky, we all have the sky

Key workers working above and beyond All being tested but strengthening their bond Time to reflect, what do we need? Peace, love and harmony, certainly not greed! Take some time, time to reflect

We take things for granted but oh not the sky It asks for nothing but keeps floating by If it gets angry it calms back down To care for all others and give what they need The sky says good morning the sky says goodnight It gives us a rainbow for which at the end is a light Think of the people without any covers This is a time we must all try and beat Our lights are the stars the sun is our heat Look up do, see the clouds passing by The sun always rises to greet us good day It sets the same wherever we lay

It cries very often to moisten the ground Take time for others, a time to connect Those being cared for that feel no calm Time to reflect, hold their hearts in your palm

Lockdown

By Beverley Whayman

The windows are empty, It isn’t real. The doors are closed. And go outside, How long they’ll stay like Like it’s no big deal. that, On Thursdays we stand, Nobody knows. And applause those working. Supermarkets stay open, Don’t spend the rest of the With a supply of food. week, You still can’t buy flour, Outside lurking. So that’s no good. If we stop this disease, They say the millers, Spreading from one to the Have run out of bags. other, We all want flour, You’ll be with your family, I’ll make some from rags! Your friends and your lover. The chickens I fear, Try and get some exercise, Have gone on strike. Even if it’s just a walk. But you can always go, You can smile at people, And purchase a bike! Even if you can’t stop and talk. Stay inside, Don’t stay out, Everyday we’re told. Any longer than an hour. Do this now, Even if you’re looking, And you may live to For eggs an flour. grow old. These times will pass, But people think, Although it’s hard to believe. Please follow the guidelines, And don’t concede. My Lockdown Poem

By Gill Jackson

After five weeks of lockdown, I know what I’ll do I’ll assemble my thoughts and pen a poem for you About life pushed indoors, so little for me No work to go to, no people to see At first it was tricky, I felt pretty glum I so missed my boys, my dad and my mum I couldn’t go shopping, out to eat – oh what gloom! And only saw friends on something called “Zoom”! “Use the time wisely, get new hobbies,” they say Learn Swedish, start painting, play ‘Scrabble’ each day Take walks in the country, give nature a chance Look at life fully, not just a quick glance So now more used to a splendid isolation, I see the benefits in this forced vacation It’s quiet and it’s peaceful, you get chance to breathe To keep safe, we MUST do this, that I concede “Stay home. Keep safe”, I have to agree, Is the rule we must live by, both you and me And with life back to how it was before It will have been worth it -that is for sure