VILLAGER The
Issue 24 - March 2014
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
Inside this issue
A Touch of the Orient
How to get the best car insurance deal
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Contents Mistletoe Interiors
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VILLAGER The
and Town
Issue 24 - March 2014
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
Inside this issue
A Touch of the Orient
How to get the best car insurance deal
Win £25 in our 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
A Touch of the Orient..............................................19 Seasonal Delights...................................................20 Kimbolton School Swimming Pool Timetable........22 Puzzle Page............................................................24 What’s On...............................................................26 Prize Crossword......................................................28 Book Review..........................................................30
How to get the best car insurance deal....................4 Mallard enters service with LNER.............................6 Nancy - City of Stanislas...........................................9 Mistletoe Interiors..................................................10 Designer vs. Budget Beauty Buys...........................13 I Dare You...............................................................15 Fun Quiz.................................................................18
Easy Lamb Rogan Dhansak
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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, Solange Hando, Ted Bruning, Emma Rees, Helen Taylor, Tony Larkins, Pippa Greenwood, Advertising Sales - Justine Miller- 07905 063211 justine@villagermag.com Photography - Sergey Chirkov 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 Get the Best Car Insurance Deal By Jonathan Vernon-Smith
If you’re like me, you will find car insurance renewal time one of the most irritating experiences. With every passing year I get a little older, a little more mature, a little more experienced behind the wheel, I NEVER make a claim and yet my insurance company feel it’s perfectly acceptable to ask me to pay a little more. Why? Well they hope that most customers are too busy with their lives to quibble over an additional £30. They hope we’ll just put the letter to one side and allow it to renew automatically. Oh how they misjudge some of us! The fact is if you haven’t made a claim or changed your circumstances, you should expect your insurance to go DOWN not UP at renewal time. Therefore it’s very important that the savvy consumer ensures this happens. Let me explain how I do it. When I receive my renewal notice, I instantly go online and use some of the comparison websites (‘Go Compare’ and ‘Money supermarket’ being just two). I put in my details and see if I can beat the renewal price I’ve been offered by my existing insurance company. Please only compare with good, reputable insurance companies. There are always some (that no-one’s ever heard of ) that come back with a price that’s very reasonable. Life is too short to have car insurance from a useless company though, so don’t make this mistake. I then get quotes from some of the companies that are NOT on price comparison websites, e.g. ‘Direct Line’ & ‘Privilege’. Without fail, I always find an insurance company that wants my business and is prepared to offer a reduced price to the one I’ve been quoted already. The whole job takes about an hour, but it’s an hour well spent if you’ve saved yourself £50 or more. At this point, you also need to consider cashback sites like ‘Quidco’ to see if you can save further money by taking insurance out through them. Armed with all the information, I then go back to my existing insurance company and let the negotiations begin. I opt for the “if you’re thinking of leaving us” number on the automated phone system and explain that I’ve been a customer of theirs for some time and am rather disappointed that they are expecting me to pay more for my insurance. I tell them I’ve done some shopping around and have found another insurance company that will beat their price. I ask them to have a look at their system to see what’s the best price they can offer me (I never make the mistake of showing my hand at this point). 9 times out of 10 they come back with a price that’s even better than the best price you’ve found from the alternative company, but if not, you’ve then got that up your sleeve. I have literally saved myself hundreds and hundreds of pounds by using this method every renewal time. The funny thing is, I’m still with the same insurance company I’ve been with for 12 years now. They just keep beating those prices. Funny that! The truth is though that if they didn’t, I would simply switch and save myself the money. While I’m on the subject of car insurance, there are a couple of other pointers I would suggest: 1. Always add another responsible driver to your policy. Insurance companies consider you to be a lower risk if you’re married or in a partnership and can put your other half on the policy. If not, it’s worth trying to add a friend with a good driving history. You may just save yourself a few quid. 2. Consider protecting your no claims bonus. If you are unfortunate enough to have to make a claim, this will prevent the policy from soaring. 3. Take the motor legal protection cover. In a dispute situation it can be invaluable. Probably the best £25 you’ll ever spend. 4. Try to accurately predict your annual mileage. There’s no point in you being insured for the risk of driving 20,000 miles a year if in fact you only drive 2,000. 5. Be honest with your insurance company. Lying may save you money initially, but if you get caught out (which you probably will), your insurance will be invalidated and you’ll face a MASSIVE bill! Happy motoring!
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. 4
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History
March 3rd 1938 Mallard enters service with LNER
To many people, the story of the 1930s is dominated by images of The Road to Wigan Pier, the Jarrow Crusade, closed factories, crumbling back-to-backs, hungry children and the means test. But while all that is undeniably and horribly true, to most Britons life didn’t feel like that at the time. Britain in 1938 was the richest and technologically the most sophisticated country on earth, and by a long chalk at that. It had the world’s first national grid. It had the world’s first TV station. It teemed with brand-new factories turning out aeroplanes, cars, buses, tractors, lorries, radios, washing machines and vacuum cleaners surrounded by brand-new suburbs of convenient modern housing where well-dressed, well-fed families gathered round the wireless in a comforting fug of dad’s pipesmoke. That was the South. In the North there were still mills, mines, steelworks, and shipyards but wages were low, unemployment was high, much of the housing was shocking, and the infant mortality rate was a national embarrassment. In Jarrow, where the shipyard had closed in 1933, unemployment stood at 73% by late 1935. To the southern technocrats the north must have seemed a frightening morass of decay, desperation, and red politics: even though the Jarrow hunger marchers of October 1936 wouldn’t let communists join them, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin still refused to meet their leaders and the handing in of their petition to Parliament earned a single line in Hansard. It was into this context that Mallard – the most advanced of the LNER’s new fleet of 35 A4 locos – bravely puffed in its bright blue livery on March 3rd 1938. Exactly four months later it clambered up a slight incline near Grantham, cresting the rise at 75mph, and accelerated down the long, gentle slope of Stoke Bank, reaching 125.88mph 9½ miles later, when it had to decelerate for Essendine junction. It had comfortably beaten the 114mph set the previous year by its closest British rival – LMS’s Coronation – but it had also trumped the 124.5mph achieved by the German 05 002 in 1936. Beating the LMS was probably more important than beating the Germans to the Mallard’s designer, Sir Nigel Gresley. But the reporting of
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Mallard at the National Railway Museum, copyright Adrian Jones. the Mallard’s feat had a strongly nationalistic and patriotic tone because everybody knew that war was coming, and Britain’s technical and material superiority over Germany was the main element in the Government’s strategy. No bloody battle of attrition in the mud this time: the world’s most powerful navy would strangle Germany’s trade while the RAF’s strategic bombers would destroy its industry. Mallard’s speed record emphasised sensationally that Britain was better than Germany at everything – even trains – and would win. It was also important that Mallard was built in Doncaster and was a product of the northern heavy industry that so many had written off. When Mallard entered service Jarrow already had a new ship-breaking yard and engineering works; shortly it was to have a steelworks as well. Mallard was a powerful and dramatic symbol that heavy industry had regained its rightful place, that North and South were one again, and that we would face the foe together. Mallard was retired in 1963 and restored in the 1980s. Its resting place is the National Railway Museum in York. If you’re making the pilgrimage to see the world’s fastest-ever steam engine, remember – you’re looking at a whole lot more than just a train. By Ted Bruning
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Travel
Nancy - City of Stanislas By Solange Hando
Just over an hour east of Paris by high speed rail, Nancy, the ancient capital of Lorraine, is one of the finest cities in France, all thanks to a deposed Polish King. In 1737, sixty year old Stanislas sought refuge at the French Court where his son in law, Louis XV, placed the newly-acquired Duchy of Lorraine in his care. Overwhelmed by gratitude, Stanislas devoted his personal fortune and the rest of his life to his new subjects, feeding the poor, encouraging the arts and planning an architectural showcase, a “royal town”, on former wasteland. He died aged 89 after falling in his fireplace. On that day, 23rd February 1766, the Duchy of Lorraine was returned to the French king. Today, Nancy owes to Stanislas one of Europe’s most dazzling squares, aptly named after him, lined with classical buildings, fountains and wrought iron gates covered in gold leaf. Relax on a café-terrace under the kindly gaze of the “Benefactor” and the view takes your breath away, the elegant City Hall, the Theatre-Opera House, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Triumphal Arch bearing a medallion of Louis XV. Yet this is just one of three world heritage sites in the heart of the town. Walk through the Arch and you are greeted by the lovely Place Carrière with its fountains and statues, antique gods and leafy avenue leading to the colonnaded crescent of the former Governor’s Palace. Alliance, the third UNESCO square, is a quiet little place tucked in the back streets around a gurgling Italian-style fountain and trees twittering with birds.
But just steps away from the 18th century city, the old medieval district leads you through a jumble of winding lanes, old-fashioned shops, flower stalls and private mansions festooned in sculpted balustrades and stone staircases. The old ducal palace now houses the Lorraine Museum while the ‘Rue Gourmande’ beckons with the aroma of quiche Lorraine or traditional Mirabelle plum tart. King Stanislas would be pleased for he loved his food and is widely acclaimed for introducing the popular volau-vent and rum baba. Beyond its historical centre, Nancy is a modern city of broad avenues and pedestrian lanes, colourful markets, pavement cafés, bright department stores and exclusive boutiques gleaming with designer fashion, jewellery and highly prized local crystal. In the early 1900s, this vibrant town gave birth to a new art movement, covering every discipline from painting and sculpture to craft and architecture. It began as Art Nouveau with soft flowing lines symbolising a return to nature and later evolved into the more sober Art Deco but whatever one’s preference, Nancy is a treasure trove of architectural wonders. Wide-eyed visitors gaze at the ornate villas sprinkled in the suburbs, or the opulent Brasserie Excelsior at the heart of town, before strolling down to the river Meurthe or enjoying a cruise on the canal. But when the sun sets over the hills, it’s time to return to the square where golden lights twinkle all around and the dark silhouette of Stanilas the Benefactor keeps watch over his flock. This is just as it should be, a unique and enchanting sight, for no other city in France owes so much to a Polish king.
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Mistletoe Interiors
Mistletoe Interiors By Emma Rees
Spring has sprung and lets hope we can say goodbye to dark nights, storms and relentless rainfall – lighter mornings and longer evenings bring more daylight! Whilst we welcome the return of sunshine in our lives and homes it isn’t always beneficial. As we open our windows and doors it can highlight the work that is necessary - a damn good clean, a repaint, de-clutter, redecoration or a total restructure. All options seem opportune at this time of year! Here are just a few tips of my design tips that will hopefully inspire you and help revamp your homes: Paint Colour - Choosing a paint colour can be tricky as many of us don’t like to be too daring. The secret is to counter balance deeper colours with subtle shades. Consider painting one themed wall (ie a single wall) in a room. Eating Room Red (Farrow & Ball) for a dining room, for example, combined with Oxford Stone (Farrow & Ball) would work extremely well together. Alternatively, consider the addition of a strong colour to a muted shaded room by way of accessorizing. I am not suggesting that everything is basked in red, but dropping shades of red into a scheme with the addition of cushions or by the display of beautiful roses will add a degree of opulence. When choosing colours from a chart, paint the samples on a card and watch the colour change as you position the card in different positions around the room as the light changes. Ensure the colour you choose complements existing furniture and soft
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furnishings Wallpaper Wallpaper is the easiest way to add pattern, texture and character to a room and has made a big revival in interior design in recent years. Wallpaper, however, can be expensive and needs to be chosen wisely. Once selected it should be treated as a piece of artwork in its own right so I advise not to cover it up with pictures or furniture that could detract or complicate the interior design look. Soft furnishings/Curtains/Cushions - Soft furnishings introduce texture, warmth and comfort to your home and can be taken with you if you move. Introduce bolder colours and textures in cushions to add interest to your rooms but remember to integrate the look by interspersing them with plain fabrics. Curtains and blinds soften interiors and dress windows to control sunlight and sound. Appropriate selection can depend on the age of the property. A retro fabric, for instance, will suit a contemporary home whilst more traditional floral fabrics fit better in older style properties. And finally, please don’t neglect the exterior entrances of your homes. Plant decorative trees or bulbs in attractive pots either side of the doors and let the sunshine in! Emma Rees, proprietor of Mistletoe Interiors can be contacted on (07885) 135478; www.mistletoeinteriors.co.uk; or email info@mistletoeinteriors.co.uk.
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Health and Beauty
Designer vs. Budget Beauty Buys
by Helen Taylor
Do you love designer cosmetics? Or do you prefer a bargain buy? Whatever your preference, it’s worth checking out our guide to when to splurge and when to save. Foundation - Splurge Foundation literally provides the foundation for the rest of your make-up. It evens out your natural skin and covers up flaws - like blemishes and scars - to leave you with a perfect finish. Cheap products just can’t beat their costly counterparts when it comes to this all-important purchase, because poorer formulations don’t have the staying power and the true-to-skin colour of pricier versions. To find the one that’s ideal for you, head to your nearest department store and take advantage of some expert advice. Find a shade which matches your natural colouring and works best for your requirements, like skin type and coverage. High-end foundations are formulated with all of these things in mind and come in a variety of true-to-life shades. Built to solve the problems presented by cheap foundations, these products are far superior. Try Estee Lauder Double Wear £28.50. Blusher - Save Everyone needs a bit of colour in their cheeks and blusher is definitely one of those items that you can save on, because high-end products don’t differ too greatly from budget versions. Just make sure that you choose a natural shade, as cheaper colours can be a little more intense and unnatural if applied too heavily. Try No7 Natural Blush Tint Powder £8.00. Mascara - Splurge Full, long lashes really do make your eyes look more beautiful, so it’s worth investing in a quality mascara. Cheap mascara is often disappointing because its consistency doesn’t match that of more expensive products, and leaves lashes looking sticky, clumpy and undefined. High-end cosmetic companies lead the way in developing the best formulas and brushes for their mascara, so you can be sure that you’ll see the benefits when you upgrade from a budget brand. Try Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara £22.50.
Eyeshadow - Save Generally, there isn’t too much difference between budget and more costly eyeshadows, as long as you choose neutral shades - stronger colours can be very harsh. Cheap eyeshadow does have a tendency to be more glittery and shimmery though, so be careful if you’re a more mature lady because it will emphasise every line and crease around your eyes. Try Bourjois Little Round Pot Intense Eyeshadow £6.99. Powder - Splurge Like foundation, there is a real difference between budget and high-end face powder. Expensive products are finely milled, making their texture extra soft and natural looking on the skin. A good powder sets your foundation and finishes your make-up, so invest in a quality one. Try Guerlain Les Voilettes Compact Powder £35. Lip-gloss - Save Lip-gloss formulations are pretty similar, so save some money when you buy yours. There’s an array to choose from and all of them will instantly serve to plump up your lips. Try Barry M Lip-gloss Wand £4.49. Highlighter - Splurge There are many different highlighters on the market; some are in powder form, others liquid. Find the right one and your face will be instantly lifted with a radiant and youthful glow. And if there’s one product that you really should splurge on, it’s YSL’s Touche Eclat Radiant Touch £25. Image: Courtesy of Estee Lauder
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Beacon Wealth
I Dare You
By Tony Larkins
Almost everyone on the planet will have heard of Apple computers, and nearly as many of the founder – the late Steve Jobs. His and Apple’s slogan was, ‘Think Different.’ He was also attributed as saying; “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” The question is, what type of future do you want? The answer will depend on where you are in terms of age, as well as your vision. Clearly, if you have already retired and rely on a fixed income, the future will be easier to decide. If you have savings and assets that are not being maximised, you could try choosing something a little better/different. Of course, if you are still working, your future is within your own hands. With the right mind set there is so much we can achieve. It is, as Steve Jobs said, the ability to think different. When Henry Ford was asked about the cars he built, he said that if he had simply asked his customers what they wanted before he started building cars, they would have said “faster horses.” He, like so many other great people that have changed the world, dared to ‘think different’, and how pleased we are that they did. Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile on 6th
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Tony Larkins CFP APFS Managing Director IFA Chartered and Certified Financial Planner
May 1954, not by training harder (he had tried that for three years without success), but by ‘thinking different’ and using Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway as pacemakers. Today, many middle and long distance records are broken through using pacemakers. Roger Bannister came up with the idea with the help of others, and could not have achieved it without them. As a financial planner I often help clients to realise a desire to retire earlier than they thought they could, or to enjoy a better level of income than expected. Clearly I am no Steve Jobs, but I do often ‘think different’. Why not, when you have a vision of your future, speak to your financial planner. If they are Chartered or Certified they will have had to prove they have the ability to ‘think different’, and think beyond basic technical knowledge required for the minimum diploma level qualification. So go on, spend a couple of minutes and think about your future – I dare you. 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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Man Bird seed & Established for over 50 years Family run business Arguably the best selection of wild bird products in 3 counties Committed to Quality Products and Service Easy to find – Brington is just 1 mile away from Junction 16 on A14 Large car parking space One UK’s best known bird food suppliers Manor Farm Granaries Brand Bird Food manufactured on site.
• Chicken food pellets mash scratching mix mixed corn and large selection requisites
• Dog foods • Cat foods • Small pets Food
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• Animal bedding Straw hay Shavings small packs and large bales
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Fun Quiz - Mascots 1. Appearing on the bonnet of their cars and taking the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind her, the Spirit of Ecstasy is the mascot for which car manufacturer? 2. Does Pudsey Bear, the mascot for Children in Need, wear a bandage over his left eye or his right eye? 3. In which 1990s film does a detective go in search of Snowflake, the missing mascot of the American football team the Miami Dolphins? 4. Underneath his overalls, Ronald McDonald wears a striped shirt and striped socks of which two colours? 5. With a black suit and bowler hat, Fred the Flour Grader is the mascot for which food brand? 6. What type of animal was World Cup Willie, the mascot for the 1966 World Cup? 7. Sonic the Hedgehog is the mascot of which video game developer? 8. What was the name of the robot mascot who would often appear in animations on the TV game show Catchphrase? 9. Which series of annual publications have a red cover with a mascot called Bibendum on them? 10. What product has three mascots, one of which wears a chef’s hat, one of which wears a stocking cap, and one of which wears a band leader’s hat? 1. Rolls-Royce 2. His right eye 3. Ace Ventura: Pet Detectiven 4. Red and white 5. Homepride 6. A lion 7. Sega 8. Mr Chips 9. The Michelin Guide (Bibendum is the name of the character commonly known as the Michelin Man) 10. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies (the mascots are Snap, Crackle and Pop)
Before
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After
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Garden
A Touch of the Orient By Pippa Greenwood
As the new gardening year is under way, is it time to embark on a new era in your garden? It can be really refreshing to have a change of style, not necessarily in your whole garden but perhaps you could create a different and contrasting feel in a small part of your plot to the rest of your wellloved garden? The Japanese style is largely very simplistic and aims to create a relaxed, calm environment. In any garden you’re going to need walls, fences, pathways and so forth, and if you use natural materials such as wood or of course bamboo, they blend in better with the surroundings of an existing or a newly planned garden and instantly help to create that oriental feel. Provided the surface is made relatively slip-proof, a small bridge can be created quite easily using a simple plank of wood, allowing you to cross over an existing or new pond or other water feature. Stain the wood an interesting colour: perhaps even bright Japanese-style red if you’re feeling daring. Thinking of water, why not create your own ‘deer chase’? All you need to set up is a source of water powered by a pump, then allow the water to pour out from a bamboo spout and then into another hollowed out piece of bamboo. As the weight of the water increases in the hollowed out bamboo it causes it to tip and to swivel around slightly. Once filled up it then tilts downwards and pours its water into the basin or bowl beneath. When empty it clunks back into position. If you want something even simpler, then buy some wide diameter bamboo canes, hollow one out, cut the end at an angle and simply create a trickling water spout. Provided you fix everything up with a pump, the Before water can then be recycled around from the bowl Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk
or basin and back into the trickling pipe. Gravelled areas raked into simple patterns resembling waves or entire circles also help to create a Japanese feel. These can take up the majority of the garden space, be a relatively small area or perhaps link your existing garden into the Japanese ‘room’ that you have created. Concentric rings of raked gravel or sand look particularly dramatic if you place a sizeable, interestingly shaped boulder, stone or specimen plant in the centre of the middle circle. When it comes to plants there are several which instantly help to evoke that Japanese effect. The so-called Japanese maples with their intricately divided leaves epitomise Japanese gardens and many will turn brilliant shades in the autumn. Japanese azaleas too can be used to great effect and can bring in some of those really bright colours which look so good for the relatively simple garden surrounding them. Pine trees may be too large for most gardens, but you can gradually bend the stems of a smaller one to create a bonsai effect. Of course, if you’re a collector of bonsai then most of these trees actually enjoy spending the summer outside in a garden and provided they are kept adequately maintained, will look great in your Japanese garden. A trip down to your local garden centre is bound to supply you with a few oriental-themed containers. Plant one or two of these up with a small acer, camellia, miniature azalea or miniature bamboo and you will really help to complete that oriental After touch.
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Food and Drink
Seasonal Delights Easy Lamb Rogan Dhansak
This recipe does use fresh ingredients but ‘cheats’ a little by using a jar of sauce rather than creating it from scratch which saves time, but still produces a delicious and authentic dish. Unlike many curry type dishes, the lentils make this very thick so there’s no need for rice. It reheats perfectly and so can be cooked the day before ready to eat at short notice the next day. INGREDIENTS 800g diced leg of lamb or lamb steaks 3 whole peppers, red, green, yellow, sliced. 1 chopped and diced onion 2 carrots peeled and finely diced 2 sticks of celery chopped and finely diced 2 jars of Rogan Josh sauce (recommend Loyd Grosman) Half a teacup of dried red lentils 2 – 4 whole red chillies sliced Bunch of fresh coriander Olive oil Salt and pepper For serving, naan bread and sour cream
Serves 4 to 6 Ready in 4 hours
2. In the same pan put about half the diced lamb and fry until sealed, then put into casserole pot, repeat with the rest of the lamb. 3. Fry the peppers for a couple of minutes, then put them into casserole pot with a pinch of salt and a good grind of pepper. Add the chillies to taste – 4 chillies will give a medium heat but use fewer chillies and remove the seeds if you don’t like it too hot. 4. Pour in the two jars of Rogan Josh, then add a bit of water to the jars, put the lid back on and shake. Chop half the coriander and add to the pot with the liquid from the jars and stir thoroughly. You need the casserole pot filled to near the top, so add water if necessary. Don’t worry if it looks a bit watery, the lentils at the end will thicken it all up. 5. Put into the oven, giving it a stir after about 2 hours. 6. After 3.5 hours sprinkle over lentils and stir in. Put back into the oven for another 40 minutes. 7. Just before serving sprinkle the rest of the fresh coriander on top and then serve with naan bread, and sour cream.
1 Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas Mark 2. Add a splash of olive oil to a frying pan and cook the onions, carrot and celery until they take on a bit of colour, then put these into a large casserole pot.
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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. 24
ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT INFORMATION EVENING KIMBOLTON FIRE STATION
Monday 24 March 2014, 6pm - 8.30pm We are currently recruiting On-call Firefighters at Kimbolton Fire Station to ensure that we can continue to provide a service and protect the local community. Why not come along and meet your local crew to: • Hear what it is like to be an On-call Firefighter • Gain an understanding of the types of incidents you could attend • Look at the equipment carried on the fire appliance • Gain an understanding of the recruitment process On-call Firefighters carry a pager and respond to emergencies as and when they happen. You could be on-call during your free time, during evenings or weekends. Many of the men and women who work as On-call Firefighters also have arrangements with their employers so that they can provide on-call cover while they are working. Others are self-employed, carers, homeworkers, retired or students. For further information come and talk to our current On-call Firefighters at the recruitment evening or during Kimbolton’s weekly training night on Monday 7pm - 9pm. You can also contact Recruitment on 01480 444500 or log onto www.cambsfire.gov.uk We are committed to achieving fairness and equality in employment and service delivery. Therefore we welcome suitably skilled applicants from all parts of the community, including applicants of Black and minority ethnic origin as we are currently under-represented by these groups.
RECRUITING THE BEST
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n O s ’ t Wha 1 March Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm St Ives Free Church Local people selling hand-made crafts. First Saturday of each month. Charity tombola and free entry. Visit www.saintscrafters.blogspot.com
1 March Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Small charge for visitors Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk by Fergus Garrett on ‘Choosing and Using Good Plants’. All welcome. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 1 March Quiz Night 7-10pm Buckden Village Hall Tickets £2 including nibbles Come and test your general knowledge. Licensed bar. Prize for the winning team. Tel: Tickets 01480 811101 1 March Horse Race Night. Wyboston Village Hall Tickets £7.50 including fish & chip supper A family, fun event. Licensed Bar. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 Web: www.wybostonvillagehall.com 2, 9, 16 & 23 March Kingfisher Church 10.30am Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday - all welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche. Refreshments served. Tel: 01480 214894 Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Bridge Club 7.30-9.30pm Roxton Village Hall Tel: 01767 448526 Web: www.greatbarfordbowlsclub.org.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Tots, Tea & Chat 10.50am-12 noon St James’ Church, Little Paxton Drop-in session for children and their carers. 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26 & 28 March 10.30am-12 noon St James’ Church, Little Paxton The Church is open on Wednesday and Friday mornings. Tea and coffee available. Most Wednesday mornings the Vicar, Annette Reed, will be available for consultation and for booking baptisms and weddings.
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5 March The First World War - Why did it happen? 7pm for 7:30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk by Dr Mike Sewell on the origins of the First World War. Nonmembers most welcome. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com
12 March Woolly Mowers 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton The Hunts Local Group of the Wildlife Trust is pleased present an illustrated talk on grazing for conservation. Speaker Nick Kiddy is the Grazing Officer for the Wildlife Trust in Bedfordshire. Tel: Phil 01487 822835 Web: www.wildlifetrust-huntsareagroup.org.uk 15 March Amore Music of Love for a Spring Evening 6.30pm St Mary & St Helena Church, Church Lane, Bourn, Cambs CB23 2SG Adults £15, Concessions, £10, Collegium Musicum of London Chamber Choir. Free glass of fizz and canapés. NSPCC Cambridgeshire event. Web: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/amorecollegium-musicum-of-london-chamber-choirconcert-tickets-9715255591 18 March Kimbolton Flower Club 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Admission £6, including light refreshments Demonstration entitled “Happiness Is” by Jane Fox. Arrangements will be raffled. Plant sales table and sales of accessories. Visitors most welcome. 19 March Carers Connect Meeting 10am-1pm Masonic Hall, Bateman Street, Cambridge Interesting speakers and activities and a chance to find out how we can work together to give Carers a stronger voice. We have all our Carer Ambassadors on board. If you are able to come hopefully you will meet them all. For carers who work or who are unable to attend meetings, we will be forming a virtual network. You can get involved in many ways, by email, online, by telephone or by social media. If you would like to find out more about Carers Connect and how you can get involved to give carers a stronger voice, please contact Carers Trust Cambridgeshire. Tel: 01480 499090 Email: care@carerstrustcambridgeshire.org Web: www.carerstrustcambridgeshire.org
19 March Huntingdonshire Family History Society 7.30-9pm Women’s Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon Non-members welcome - £1 donation appreciated at the door ‘Emigration in The Nineteenth Century’ by Ian Waller. Web: www.huntsfhs.org.uk 20, 21 & 22 March The Drowsy Chaperone 7.30pm and Saturday matinee 2.30pm Performance Hall, Comberton Village College Tickets £10.50 & £7.00. Presented by the Bourn Players. Tickets on sale at Bourn Shop, Comberton Leisure and online. Raising funds for Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge. Web: www.bournplayers.org.uk 21 March Sunshine On Leith (PG) 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Adults £4, Concessions £3, Under 16 £2 Kimbolton Community Cinema. Tickets from Watson’s, Dixi’s Deli, Bytes Café or on the door if available. Tel: 01480 860297 for more information Web: e-voice.org.uk/themandevillehallkimbolton 22 March Cambourne Craft Fair 11.30am-4pm Cambourne Church Free admission Craft and handmade goods; hot drinks and bacon rolls; craft activities for adults and children and a resource centre with materials for arts, crafts and creative play. To raise money for a community craft group project ‘Crafty B’s’. Email: mrscraftyb@gmail.com for a special café voucher 22 March Fundraising Ferret Racing Evening 7 for 7.30pm Great Stukeley Village Hall £14 per person including Cottage Pie Supper Tote, Raffle, Bring Your Own Bottle. Name your own Ferret £6 per race. Theme: American-Red, White & Blue. Tickets going fast! Tel: Mary Alleyne-James 01480 433954
gathering to sing and socialise for anyone with memory problems and their carers. Fourth Wednesday of every month. All with memory problems and their carers, are welcome. Tel: Wendy 01480 219925 or Nell 01480 472495 for more details 27 March St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St. Mary’s Church Hall, Brook Street, St. Neots Members £2.00,Non-Members £2.50 which includes refreshments and a raffle ticket Meeting with Brian Eversham talking about Bumble Bees and other Bees. Competition is ‘A vase of Spring Flowers’. 28 March An Evening of Music 7pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton An Evening of Music by The Community of Little Paxton School plus a performance by The Benefice Choir. Refreshments. Retiring collection in aid of CHUFT. 28 March Quiz Night 7.30pm Little Paxton Village Hall, High Street, Little Paxton Tickets: £6.00 each, including supper In aid of Little Paxton Bumpkins Group. Maximum 6 people per team. Licensed Bar. Closing date for Tickets 26 March. Please order tickets early – limited numbers. Tel Lee Duncan 01480 353567 Email: lm.duncan@ntlworld.com 29 March Spring Food Fair 11am-3pm Buckden Village Hall Free admission A variety of delicious home-made foods, local producers, Easter goodies, kitchenware and refreshments. Come along and support local suppliers. Interested in taking part? Contact Rachel on 01480 811101 for details.
24 March One Day Weaving Course 10am-4pm Alconbury £65 A special one-day weaving course, led by local professional designer. Weave a pretty and original scarf to take away with you; beginners welcome. All materials and a light lunch provided. Booking essential. Tel: Linda Parkhouse 01480 896866 Email: parkhousepr@aol.com Web: www.lindaparkhouse.co.uk
29 March Spring Concert St. Neots United Reformed Church Tickets £6 Spring Concert by Tapestry, the A Cappella Chamber Choir singing songs sacred and secular for Springtime and beyond. Proceeds to the Music Department at Spring Common School and the United Reformed Church. Raffle and refreshments. Tickets available from 10am-12 noon Tue/Thur/Sat at the United Reformed Church and on the night, space permitting. Tel: 01480 861389 for more information
26 March Musical Memories 11am-12.30pm Peppercorns Academy, Little End Road, Eaton Socon, St Neots, PE19 8JH Free event Singing, listening to music, even playing an instrument, are pleasures that remain for people with dementia long after everything else has gone. A group of volunteers in St. Neots are starting a monthly
29 March Haslingfield Choir and Orchestra Concert 7.30pm All Saints’ Church, Haslingfield, CB23 1JF Adults £10, Concessions £8 Programme includes Fauré’s Requiem, Bach’s Cantatas No.118 and 131 and Bach’s Overture from Orchestral Suite No.1. Web: haslingfieldvillage.co.uk/choir/ for more details
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The Villager Prize Crossword
£25
Across 1 Money (4) 3 Used in board game (5,3) 9 Scold severely (7) 10 Electronic post (5) 11 Young cabbage plants (6,6) 14 To allow (3) 16 Type of drum (5) 17 Joint (3) 18 Seen in a rink (6-6) 21 Violent disturbances (5) 22 Stabbing weapon (7) 23 Supporting column (8) 24 Popular sport (4)
and send to the address below before
18th March 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name:
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FLOORED By Ian
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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
Three Brave Women Elizabeth Waite Publisher: Sphere p/b £5.99 ISBN 978 0 7515 5022 0 With the current popularity of nostalgic television, it is good to discover this tidy little volume, a story of interwoven lives which could well find its way onto the screens in due course, where it would sit comfortably alongside contemporary series like ‘Call the Midwife’. There is something of the same feel both in style and period - human foibles abound and small disasters occur to become proportionally larger as life moves in unpredictable ways. Supporters of television soaps will know exactly what that means. The three women in question are sisters-inlaw, having married brothers, though each relationship is very different. One husband suffers an early tragic death, another is labelled as a ‘ne’re to well’ and first revealed coming out of prison, but it is the third couple who takes a larger chunk of the narrative. It is the child of this family who provides a not too unfamiliar anchor story, with a suitable amount of courtroom drama to add flavour. An early misdemeanour and a wandering eye can both cause disparate amounts of grief in their turn, happily the three women are loyally there for each other. Followers of Elizabeth Waite will appreciate her style, though there are other authors out there who write in not dissimilar vein. It is a comfortable and heart-warming tale to some extent - and there’s always a chance of a happy ending. Small in both size and price it’s a nice choice for the wet weekend away.
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Interior and exterior design consultancy, home staging, soft furnishings, lighting, accessories, paints, wallpaper
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