Alcon dec 13

VILLAGER The

Issue 21 - December 2013

and Town

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

How To Purchase Safely on the Winter-Web

Cambridgeshire Natural Burials

Win

£50 in our Bumper Christmas Prize Crossword Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, Riseley, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

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Contents Cambridgeshire Natural Burials

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VILLAGER The

and Town

Issue 21 - December 2013

Life

LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS

Inside this issue

How To Purchase Safely on the Winter-Web

Cambridgeshire Natural Burials

Win

£50 in our Bumper Christmas Prize Crossword Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, Riseley, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

r

u E Ey FRcop

Yo

Kimbolton School Swimming Pool Timetable........22 Puzzle Page............................................................24 What’s On...............................................................26 Bumper Christmas Prize Crossword........................28 Book Review..........................................................30

Ginger Christmas Puddings

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How to Purchase Safely on the Winter-Web.............4 Wildlife Wanderings.................................................6 Cambridgeshire Natural Burials................................8 Learning from Other Peoples Mistakes...................13 Cascading Wealth...................................................15 Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.................................18 Seasonal Delights...................................................21 7,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Abbots Ripton, Alconbury, Brington, Buckworth, Bythorn, Catworth, Covington, Dillington, Grafham, Great Staughton, Hail Weston, Keyston, Kimbolton, Kings Ripton, Leighton Bromswold, Little Staughton, Lower Dean, Molesworth, Old Weston, Perry, Pertenhall, Riseley, Shelton, Stonley, Stow Longa, Swineshead, The Stukeleys, Tillbrook, Upper Dean (We also have over 150 distribution points, including pubs, garages, most shops, post offices, Supermarket Chains in all of the above as well as in Huntingdon, Lt Staughton, Grafham Water Visitor Centre’s and Kimbolton)

Editorial - Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Christine Donnelly, Tamara Glanvill, Tony Larkins and Bruce Edwards Advertising Sales - Justine Miller- 07905 063211 justine@villagermag.com Photography - Steven Cukrov Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

Three Counties Radio

How to Purchase Safely on the Winter-Web

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

The internet has been with us since the mid 90s. Whilst it has of course brought some fantastic benefits to our lives, it has also created some absolute headaches as well.

The fact the entire world is accessible in our homes is a wonderful thing, but it is worth noting that there are lots of internet companies out there, particularly those in other countries that can provide a less than desirable service.

So how can you protect yourself against these companies, particularly when making purchases for Christmas?

The most important thing you can do, is to of course avoid buying items from dodgy internet companies in the first place. It sounds simple, but you’d be amazed how many people still find some weird company online that nobody’s ever heard of and hand over hundreds of pounds. They are then amazed when they find themselves out of pocket without the goods they’ve ordered.

Therefore, always make sure you research the internet company you are planning to buy from. Find out where they’re based, look for a UK telephone number, check reviews and complaints about them so you know exactly who you’re dealing with. Ensure that their delivery timeframe will ensure your gifts will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas.

Make sure you’re paying a sensible price. If a company is selling an item at a ridiculously low price compared to all other companies, there’s usually a reason why. Often the items are fake. Over the years I’ve dealt with my fair share of customers who thought they were getting a great deal with ‘Ugg boots’ or ‘GHD hair straighteners’, only to find they’ve bought fakes from a company abroad.

You should always pay for goods by credit card but particularly when buying over the internet. It is worth noting that you are not protected by the consumer credit act unless you’re paying over £100, but you’re still more likely to get your money back using a credit card rather than debit card, cheque or bank transfer. I would go so far as to say you should NEVER buy goods from a company that asks you to transfer money directly into their account.

If you decide you’re going to buy Christmas presents from an online auction site like ebay, it is worth familiarising yourself with their safety advice. You generally have fewer rights when buying goods in this way, particularly if they are second hand. Paying by paypal and ensuring that you NEVER collect items in person will go some way to protecting yourself. Only buy from highly rated sellers, based in the UK. It is worth remembering that when you buy brand new items over the internet, you are protected by the distance selling regulations. Because you haven’t had the chance to see the item in the flesh, you have 7 days from delivery to change your mind and send it back for a full refund. Unless the company specifies their returns postage policy, then they are liable for the postage too. Make sure you order things online in plenty of time to allow for this, after all, you don’t want unhappy friends and relatives whose presents are NOT under the tree.

Jonathan Vernon-Smith not only offers you his consumer advice here but you can listen to The JVS Show tackling your consumer problems every weekday morning from 9am.

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Travel

WILDLIFE WANDERINGS

By Christine Donnelly

We are lucky to live in an area that is in reach of some of Britain’s best coasts for finding spectacular wildlife. Whilst the Lincolnshire coast has some superb places to see nesting seabirds in summer, winter is the season when the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts provide some of Europe’s richest feeding grounds for large flocks of birds known as ‘waders’.

Having spent the summer in the far north of Europe or Asia, millions of small birds arrive on the shores of the North Sea and on nearby mudflats, salt marshes and estuaries. A December trip to favourite summer holiday destinations such as Heacham, Holme, Brancaster and Wells introduces you to a new world full of birds including curlew, redshank, knot, sanderling and dunlin. The Suffolk estuaries south of Aldeburgh and Orford contain internationally important wintering grounds for birds such as avocets and godwits.

Clematis cirrhosa, cultivated forms of which are both becoming popular in our gardens.

Crown anemone, Cyprus For those venturing further afield, December and January are ideal months to visit two places in the southern hemisphere that are famous for their unique natural history. New Zealand and Tasmania each have a fantastic range of habitats including rainforests containing elegant tree ferns, rich coastal waters teaming with seabirds and marine mammals and extensive grasslands with many rare plants. Tasmania’s mammals include wombat, platypus, echidna and the endangered Tasmanian devil, whilst New Zealand is the home to the highly protected kiwi and the very unusual kea, an ‘alpine’ parrot.

Black-tailed godwit. Suffolk Nearer home, you can often see other species of wader in the fields so look out for golden plover as well as the more familiar lapwings. Other large flocks are made up of fieldfares and redwings, relatives of the song thrush that are here for the colder months. For details of local talks and walks over the winter check the Events page of The Wildlife Trust www.wildlifebcn.org or phone 01954 713500. Details of local nature reserves and how to become a member of the Trust can also be found.

A Christmas break in southern Europe can be surprisingly good for early ‘spring’ flowers, many of which start to flower before the end of the year. In Cyprus, wild daffodils and crown anemone are in flower in December along with the delicate winterflowering Cyclamen cyprium and the beautiful

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Tasmanian echidna Wildlife Travel has been running wildlife holidays worldwide for 25 years. Contact 01954 713575 or check www.wildlife-travel.co.uk for details of trips. Any profits from Wildlife Travel are donated to nature conservation through The Wildlife Trusts.

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Local

CAMBRIDGESHIRE NATURAL BURIALS

Do You Know About Them?

Tracy O’Leary, Independent Green Funeral Director from Woodland Wishes explains more.

Apart from the ever increasing cost of funerals, have you ever considered a burial in a beautiful woodland setting - simple, natural and affordable?

In the UK there are now over 300 natural burial grounds. One of the three local grounds lies on the outskirts of Huntingdon, a peaceful woodland and a serene final resting place. There are no neglected graves and no burden on family members charged with the responsibility of grave visiting and maintenance. Instead of headstones, wild flowers, meadows and trees mark the grave, providing a symbolic celebration of life. Few are aware of this or indeed of the concept of natural burials in the area.

I only made this discovery whilst promoting willow coffins for a local charity in Cambridge. Visiting natural burial grounds in England and listening to bereaved families who wanted something simple but special gave me a surprising insight into alternative funerals. The personalisation and simplicity of ‘greener’ funerals without all the fuss, environmental damage and expense of mainstream funerals often appeal to those that hear about it.

I’d like to raise awareness of alternatives to the traditional coffin; alternatives such as cardboard, woollen and willow coffins that are woven locally.

Families can get involved in weaving part of a coffin if they so wish here in Cambridge. A simple cardboard coffin can be personalised with drawings, adding photos and messages as well as decorating with favourite flowers from their own gardens. Things that can all help with the grieving process.

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For those wanting something less formal than a traditional black hearse or pall bearers dressed in black, a more subtle and practical vehicle is available and guidance can be given to families wishing to carry a coffin themselves if they so wish.

Through helping families and individuals plan their farewell I now find myself being called a ‘green funeral arranger’ rather than a traditional funeral director and I am privileged for a family or an individual to let me be part of something so personal to them.

I am passionate about helping and giving as much or as little practical guidance and a totally personal service to get exactly what you want from a funeral and am happy to offer any advice and information on natural burials, home funerals and simple cremation services at any time.

Woodland Wishes is independent, honest and ethical, founded to carry out simple and meaningful funerals in tranquil landscapes using locally made ‘earth friendly’ coffins and is also a Natural Death Centre recommended Funeral Director and is part of the Association of Green Funeral Directors.

Tracy has now set up new premises in a stunning location in Woodwalton. Please telephone Tracy if you would like to visit for an informal chat.

Tracy can be reached on: 01223 651653 www.woodlandwishes.co.uk tracy@woodlandwishes.co.uk

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Brampton Chiropractic Clinic 84 High Street, Brampton PE28 4TH DR NEIL BROE, DC and Assoc Registered with the General Chiropractic Council Members of the British Chiropractic Association Over 30 years experience A gentle but specific form of manipulation.

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Family Law

Learning from Other Peoples Mistakes

By Tamara Glanvill Solicitor at Woolley & Co, Bedford www.family-lawfirm.co.uk

When someone is splitting from a long-term partner or divorcing, there is so much to think about that it is easy to see how we can fall into making (further) big mistakes. That may seem ironic, I know.

For instance, we routinely advise clients not to be adversarial and not get wound up by the things their ex says and does. Not easy, we know. When emotions are running high, staying calm in the face of extreme provocation requires a higher state of Buddhism than most people on this earth can hope to achieve.

Other things should be relatively straight forward.

However, if I have to pick the five most important divorce mistakes to avoid, they would be: Skipping a clean break order – if you do not get all of the agreed financial settlements enshrined in a properly drafted clean break order, you leave yourself open to future claims from an ex. This applies even if additional wealth is accumulated after you split, eg a Lottery win or inheritance.

Using your children as pawns – the concerns and wellbeing of any children should be the top consideration for parents divorcing. However, while many will go to great lengths to make sure they are looked after, many still fall into the trap of sending messages to an ex via the kids or scoring points by making derogatory comments to them about an ex. It can have a long-term negative impact on the child’s relationship with both parents.

Not using a family law specialist – an increasing number of people represent themselves in a bid to save money but can fall foul of the system or simply not know enough to negotiate the best deal. Others simply engage the general solicitor at their local high street firm, who does a bit of everything but is not up to speed on the latest family law issues.

Seek a dedicated family law specialist to ensure you get the best possible outcome. Many will offer a free half hour.

Ignoring the pension pot – It can be the second biggest asset for some couples after the house, particularly for older couples. There are numerous ways it can be looked into. Not looking at this could be a costly mistake.

Not being realistic – give the situation an honest evaluation and be realistic in the outcome you want to achieve from a divorce. Digging your heels in, fighting to get more than you can reasonably expect and refusing to consider proposed contact arrangements for your children can all add to the time and expense of finding a solution.

As I said at the start, ultimately you may consider it was the getting married in the first place that was the biggest mistake – but avoiding these others issues as well will do you no harm.

Tamara Glanvill, a family law Specialist at Woolley and Co will offer a free half hour consultation. Call her on 0845 6802136 or email tamara.glanvill@family-lawfirm.co.uk

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Beacon Wealth

Cascading Wealth

By Tony Larkins

Many individuals who have accumulated wealth are keen to preserve it, so as to ensure they have sufficient in old age and enough to meet any long term care costs should they occur.

However, at the same time many parents and grandparents of independent means want to pass some wealth down to their offspring.

We have often heard comments of “I wouldn’t want to be starting out today.” Jobs are difficult to find, houses cost a lot of money, mortgage deposits are high and rents expensive. But as a 60s baby our generation had their own issues and my parents’ generation had theirs.

The advantage for us, let’s say the ‘older’ generation, is that they were brought up learning to save if they wanted something and never bought into the modern ‘must have’ culture of today. How did we survive without cable TV, mobile phones and the internet? It is, however, a different world and as someone who today was made a grandad for the first time, my own thoughts (after I hope mother and baby are well and to be honest quite a few other things) are what part will we be able to play to help.

Certainly I feel far too young to be wanting to pass on any wealth I am accumulating, but there will be certain things as a financial planner that I will be considering over the years to come. The obvious is a savings plan, but there is also the option of a pension. A couple of thousand invested now for 70

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Tony Larkins CFP APFS Managing Director IFA Chartered and Certified Financial Planner

years should be a great help, especially if I can add to it over the years ahead.

There is also the use of Wills and Trusts. A couple of months ago I wrote a remark about Will Writers and immediately received an email from one I know; whilst he agreed with most of my comments, I have to accept he actually is quite good.

Intergenerational planning is usually thought of as being relevant to the large landowners and aristocracy, but everything is relevant. Keeping money in the bank brings security, but if the interest rate is less than inflation it is actually losing money.

Over the last twelve months our best portfolio grew by 23.15% and our most cautious by 10.34%, the three year corresponding performance is 29.87% and 15.76%. The usual warning must follow that past performance is no guarantee of future performance, but if the trade figures continue to improve as they are, I would expect our performance to remain strong.

At Beacon we have won awards this year for our results, but also for our business plan. This means we practice what we preach, so if you have been fortunate to accumulate wealth you wish to consider for cascading down the generations, or simply want a better return, contact me.

You should always seek qualified advice from an IFA, preferably a Certified (CFP) or Chartered Financial PlannerCM (APFS). If you have a financial question, e-mail: tlarkins@beaconwealth.co.uk

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Local

Can You Help?

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People The Cambridge branch of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People was established in 2008, with the purpose of fundraising and promoting awareness of the charity. Hearing Dogs change lives for the better by alerting their deaf companions to household sounds such as the telephone, doorbell, smoke alarm etc. The training can take up to 18 months, including socialising and basic obedience classes for the first year, followed by sound work in designated residential training centres designed to suit the individual deaf person’s life style.

There is no direct government support for the charity; we therefore rely heavily on donations from individuals and companies. It costs in excess of ÂŁ40,000 to train and support just one Hearing Dog throughout its life.

This is why our local group is vital in helping the charity. If you think you could spare a little time and would be interested in

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occasionally helping at fundraising events, or feel you could help in any other way please contact our Branch Organiser, Debora Carter, by e-mail: debora. carter@yahoo.co.uk For more information about hearing dogs please visit www. hearingdogs.org.uk

Everyone at The Villager would like to wish all our readers and advertisers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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Recipe

SEASONAL DELIGHTS

Ginger Christmas Puddings

Makes 6 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes These fruity mini puds flavoured with stem ginger are much lighter than a traditional rich Christmas pudding and don’t need to be made weeks in advance.

INGREDIENTS 175g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 175g self-raising flour ½ tsp baking powder 175g light muscovado sugar 1 tsp each ground mixed spice and ground ginger 3 large eggs 100g dried mixed fruit 50g glace cherries, chopped 50g stem ginger, finely chopped 4 tbsp stem ginger syrup Softly whipped cream or brandy butter, to serve 1 Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5.

Butter six small pudding basins (each about 200ml capacity) and line the bases with circles of baking parchment.

2 Place the butter, flour, baking powder, sugar,

spices and eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat together with an electric mixer for 1-2 minutes until pale and creamy. Fold in the dried mixed fruit and two-thirds of the cherries and stem ginger.

3 Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared pudding basins then cover each basin with a circle of greased and pleated baking parchment and secure with string. Cover each basin with pleated foil.

4 Stand the basins in a roasting tin and pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the basins. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until risen, firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into a pudding comes out clean.

5 Leave the puddings to stand for 10 minutes then turn out onto serving plates. Mix the remaining cherries and ginger with the stem ginger syrup and spoon over the puddings.

Serve with cream or brandy butter.

Tip - For a boozy flavour, gently heat the stem ginger syrup with 1-2 tbsp of rum or brandy then pour over the hot puds just before serving.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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FLOORED

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n O s ’ t a h W

1 December Craft Show 12 noon-4pm Catworth Village Hall, Church Street, Catworth Craft stalls selling unusual Christmas gifts. Refreshments available. Tel: Joan 01832 710296

1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 December Kingfisher Church 10.30am Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday – all welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche. Refreshments served. Tel: 01480 394321 Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 4 December Christmas Coffee Morning 10-11.30am Millard Suite, Buckden Village Hall Admission £2 to include coffee and mince pies Buckden St. Mary’s Church Fundraisers. Cake stall, Gifts and Raffle. All welcome.

4 December Little Paxton Gardening Club AGM & Christmas Social 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall. Annual subscription £6 Members only meeting as it’s the Club AGM. The Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month, excluding January and August. New members and visitors always welcome.

Web: www.little-paxton.org.uk 6-7 December An Evening of One Act Plays Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm, Orwell Village Hall Tickets: Thursday £8, Friday & Saturday £10 The Orwell Players present two comedies. “Happy Birthday Me!” by Simon Williams, and “Strictly Sex Factor” on Ice by David Tristram. Tickets available from Orwell Post Office. Bar. www.theorwellplayers.co.uk 6-8 December Christmas Tree Festival Fri & Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12 noon-3pm St Neots United Reformed Church. Programmes £1 More than 40 trees. Raffle and Tombola plus Christmas craft stalls and children’s lucky dip. Refreshments. All welcome 6-8 December Christmas Tree Festival Fri 7pm, Sat 10.30am-5pm, Sun £12 noon-5pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Friday tickets £3.50 including mince pies and mulled wine Saturday & Sunday admission £2.50 Refreshments on sale throughout the festival.

Tickets from Truffles & Twine.

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7 December Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm St Ives Free Church Local people selling hand-made crafts at very reasonable prices.

Held on the first Saturday of each month. Charity tombola and free entry. For details visit www.saintscrafters.blogspot.com 7 December Christmas Craft and Produce Fair 11am-4pm Manor Farm, 14 Alms Hill, Bourn, Cambridge, CB23 2SH Free Entry Wide range of stalls including jewellery & accessories, needlecraft, home ware, homemade jams and confectionary.

Christmas trees and wreaths also for sale. Hot and cold food available. Mulled wine and cider. Tel: 01954 713971 Email: joproud@manorfarmbourn.co.uk 7 December Christmas Fayre 11am-5pm Grafham Village Hall Local Produce, Arts and Crafts. Children’s Lucky dip, Raffle and More. Mince Pies, Coffee, Mulled Wine. All welcome. In aid of Grafham Church. Web: www.grafham.org.uk 7 December Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Small charge for visitors Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk by Andrew Sankey on ‘Rethinking your garden’. Andrew is a garden designer, plant fair organiser, and Nurseryman. Plants will be available for sale. All welcome - small charge applies.

Tel: Winifred 01234 721720 Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 7 December Christmas Handbell Concert 3.00pm St. Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Adults £10, Concessions £8, Children under 12 £3 East Anglian Handbell Team. Your chance to hear over 100 bells and handchimes in an amazing concert that will include Christmas carols to help you start your Christmas off on the right note. Mince pies and hot drinks. Tickets available from Church Office. Tel: 01234 823811 Web: www. ear.hrgb.org.uk 7 December Masked Christmas Dinner Dance 7 for 7.30pm till midnight. Great Stukeley Village Hall Tickets £20 including 3 course meal Entertainment by local vocalist Steve Lake.

Tickets: Jan Sly 01480 450197 7 December Haslingfield Choir and Orchestra performs Handel’s Messiah 7.30pm All Saints’ Church, Haslingfield Tickets: £10, Concessions £8 Tickets from The Village Shop or on the door.

Tel: Kate Dickens 01223 872088 Web: http://haslingfieldvillage.co.uk/choir/

7 December Sawtry Chorale in Concert 7.30pm All Saints Church, Sawtry Seasonal songs for all ages. Proceeds in aid of church funds.

Web: www.sawtrychorale.co.uk for further details 7 & 8 December Art Exhibition 11am-4pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton Art Exhibition by Little Paxton Art Club. Refreshments, Christmas craft, cakes, books, preserves etc..

8 December Carols by Candlelight 3pm Little Barford Church The church looks quite magical with all the candles (in excess of 100) so it is well worth seeing and with other floral decorations looks very Christmassy. There is no heating so wrap up warm!

10 December Buckden Gardeners Association 8pm Buckden Village Hall Members free, guests £2 Christmas Social. Bring/share food festival. Tel: Pam 01480 811680. Web: www.buckdengardeners.info 11 December Wildlife Landscapes of the Hebrides 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton A talk by Barrie Mason. Barrie is an experienced speaker and has enthralled many people with both his talks and inspirational wildlife photography. Anyone interested in wildlife is most welcome to attend. Tel: Phil 01487 822835 Web: www.wildlifetrust-huntsareagroup.org.uk 11 December Thirsty Godmanchester – Pubs Past & Present 7.30-9pm Women’s Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon Non-members welcome - £1 donation appreciated at the door Huntingdonshire Family History Society talk by Ken Sneath.

Web: www.huntsfhs.org.uk/ 13 December White Christmas. 7 for 7.30pm. Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Adults £4, Concessions £3, Under 16s £2 Kimbolton Community Cinema presents White Christmas.

Licensed Bar. Free Popcorn. Tickets available from Watson’s, Dixi’s Deli, Bytes Café, or on the door.

13 December Christmas Concert by Huntingdon Male Voice Choir 7.30pm Great Stukeley Village Hall Tickets £10.00 including light refreshments Tickets: Jan Sly 01480 450197 14 December Christmas Market. 10.30am-12.30pm Shepreth Village Hall Lovely festive items for sale, along with fresh, local produce.

Refreshments by Shepreth WI. Ample parking at rear of hall.

Tel: Jane 07554 207580

14 December An Orchestral Concert 7.30pm Adults £12, Students £6 Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Handel - Messiah Part 1, with Mozart’s orchestration, Strauss - Waltz of the Spheres, Lumbye - Champagne Galop, BerliozHungarian March. Carols by Christopher Brown and Margaret Stokes and traditional carols for all to sing. Tel: Tickets Anabel Capon 01832 274834 Email: huntsphiltickets@btinternet.com 14 December Sawtry Chorale in Concert 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Proceeds in aid of Kimbolton Castle Rotary Club charities.

Web: www.sawtrychorale.co.uk for further details 15 December Christmas Songs of Praise 4pm Godmanchester Baptist Church Carols, readings, a great message and a traditional Christmas tea.

Tel: 01480 458565 - call us if you need transport www.godmanchesterbaptist.org/christmas 15 December Christmas Music with Carols by Tapestry Singers 5pm Tickets £5 including refreshments In aid of CHUFT. Tickets from Alison Rogers 01480 215607.

17 December Kimbolton Flower Club 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Admission £6 Christmas Workshop and Social Evening. If you wish to make an arrangement please bring your own materials. Some accessories will be on sale. Please bring a sharing plate of finger food. Tea and coffee provided. Visitors most welcome.

22 December Kingfisher Church 10.30am Little Paxton Primary School Family Carol Service. Refreshments served.

Tel: 01480 394321 Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 22 December Traditional Christingle Service 4pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton Collection in aid of The Children’s Society.

24 December - Christmas Eve Christingle Service with Carols 2.30 pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton Christmas Crib. Collection in aid of The Children’s Society.

24 December - Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight 6.30pm Godmanchester Baptist Church An hour of popular carols, readings and special items. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine. Suitable for all ages. www.godmanchesterbaptist.org/christmas

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Bumper Christmas Prize Crossword

Complete the crossword, fill in your details

Prize

£50

below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th December 2013 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Name:

Down 1 Imagining (8) 2 Wash (5) 4 Frozen water (3) 5 Sizes (12) 6 Créche (7) 7 Vomit (4) 8 Adequately (12) 12 Enumerate (5) 13 Pest (8) 15 Make ready (7) 19 All (5) 20 Imitation (4) 22 Vegetable (3)

Tel:

Address:

Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mrs P Myers from St Neots For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com 28



Across 1 Harbour (4) 3 Precious stones (8) 9 Implement (7) 10 Concur (5) 11 Produced (12) 14 Short sleep (3) 16 Coarse (5) 17 Pronoun (3) 18 Despite (12) 21 Modify (5) 22 Design (7) 23 Daily (8) 24 Musical instrument (4)

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Books Design Consultancy

BOOK REVIEW

By Bruce Edwards

Mistletoe Interiors Emma Rees 07885 135478 info@mistletoeinteriors.co.uk www.mistletoeinteriors.co.uk

Step Back in Time Ali McNamara Sphere p/b £6.99 Commercial fiction can have the same swings of fashion as skirts. All manner of trends move up and down under strangely designed covers though some do not sit as well as they should. One current fashion appears to be in time travel, perhaps a hang over from ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’. Is this an escapism read, the need to forget the woes and worries of today’s uncertainties? Whether trade writers run out of ideas and suffer from lack of stimulation when a publisher reminds them of deadlines and contracts, who knows. It must be demoralising to suffer from writer’s block if the phone rings and ‘we need your typescript by Friday’ sounds the ‘knell of doom’, hence the ability to skip off to another decade sounds like a very good idea and could even be fun. Our heroine actions the title in an involuntary fashion; she’s day dreaming and collides with a car on a zebra crossing.

Magically she survives without a scratch, (power of literary licence!), but is catapulted into another time zone. Ah, to leave all the uncertainties behind you! But no, different problems arise; life becomes complicated, again and again. Same crossing, same car, same effect though I’m not sure we ever find out why. In this fascinating fictional insight and creative treatise on twentieth century music and fashion, Jo-Jo is as good a companion as any, taking us into territory where we may even wish we could stay.

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Interior and exterior design consultancy, home staging, soft furnishings, lighting, accessories, paints, wallpaper

Garden Services

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To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

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