Bedford january 2013

VILLAGER The

Issue 23 - January 2013

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue...

Catch up with

Alistair Burt MP – Monthly Column

£2.8M Restoration

Planned for Old Wardens hidden gem Swiss Garden

Plus

A chance to win £25 in our prize crossword

ur E o Y E FRcopy

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VILLAGER

In this Issue

Issue 23 - January 2013

The

and Town

Life

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

4

Alistair Burt MP

Inside this issue...

Catch up with

New Year Expectations

Alistair Burt MP – Monthly Column

£2.8M Restoration

Planned for Old Wardens hidden gem Swiss Garden

Plus

A chance to win £25

ur Yo EE Rcopy

in our prize crossword

15

F

Editorial

Alex Brown, Alistair Burt and Solange Hando

Front Cover Image Mark Brazier

Advertising Sales

Bedford Borough

Bestows Highest Honour

16

Swiss Garden

Set for Restoration

Christa Hallam Tel: 07868 369257 Christa@villagermag.com

28

Design and Artwork

£25 up for grabs!

Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Prize Crossword

New Year, New Hobby....................................................4

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com

VILLAGER The

and Town Life

Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls.................................... 8 Recovering from a Financial Hangover........................ 10 Cape Town..................................................................... 13 Fun Quiz......................................................................... 21 Seasonal Delights.......................................................... 22 Puzzle Page...................................................................24 What’s On......................................................................26 Milton Keynes Marathon..............................................30

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.

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New year, new hobby

BY Alex Brown

Eat healthily, start exercising, get more sleep…

As you list your usual New Year resolutions, why not add in something fun for once? January is the perfect time to lift your spirits out of a winter slump by starting a new hobby, and there have never been so many activities to try.

To narrow down your choice, think about what you’d like to add your life. Do you want to meet more people? Be more active? Learn a skill? Get creative? You may want to develop something that you are already interested in, or try something completely new.

Look around to find out what’s going on. Your adult education centre and library will be able to help, and you’ll find information in cafés, newsagents, community centres and local magazines.

If you were inspired by the 2012 Olympics, you could try a new sport or exercise class, but getting fit doesn’t have to mean sport. Why not follow the Strictly contestants and sample the benefits of ballroom dancing or Zumba, or simply aim to get out more and enjoy the countryside?

Geocaching is an exciting new outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. It’s essentially

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a high-tech treasure hunt. Another new trend is roller derby – a fast-paced contact sport where teams race to lap the opposition as they skate around the track.

If you fancy using your mind more than your body, you could learn a new language in preparation for a foreign holiday perhaps. Or build on an existing interest by joining a photography class or book group.

Music can reduce stress and improve your mood, so why not dust off that instrument you haven’t touched for years and join an amateur orchestra?

Choirs are increasingly popular and you’re sure to find a range of musical styles available.

Crafts have had a real boost lately, with knitting and sewing groups setting up all over the country. Jewellery and card-making are also satisfying. You can get started quite cheaply and pick up the basics quickly. The bonus is that you get to keep the end result, or give it as a gift. You also have the potential to earn money by selling your creations.

Increased access to computers means that we can get involved in a whole host of new communities without even leaving the house.

Many of us enjoy researching our family trees and finding the facts behind our memories. It’s also easy to use social networks to track down old school friends and colleagues that we’ve lost touch with.

And if none of these is for you, how about foraging, meditation, wine-tasting, linedancing, magic tricks, bee-keeping, historical re-enactments, home baking…the list really is endless!

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Alistair Burt MP

New Year Expectations The New Year always brings expectations. We look at our own lives and make the usual efforts, usually to ‘cut down’ on something or other, or alternatively ‘take up’ such and such. And we rarely do either. This is why gyms and other places rub their hands knowing that they will take huge numbers of new subscriptions from those who fall by the wayside in March, or perhaps February or even by January 14th. ( I am told the trick is just choose one, and take easy steps) But what happens when you are a country, which has just experienced perhaps the best year ever in cultural and sporting terms? A country where so much memorable happened in 2012 that merely waking up on January 1st 2013 was an anti-climax?

I hope this New Year sets us some challenges we can indeed take on, and overcome. We should use 2012 not as a comparison with an ‘annus mirabilis’, but as an inspiration to what we can do even better.

Firstly, cynicism; an easy to get into disease where ‘nothing works’ and ‘everything is worse than yesterday’. If we felt that way at the beginning of 2012, that the Olympics would be a disaster, and that no one would turn out for Her Majesty’s Jubilee, how wrong we were. This country CAN do

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things better than almost anyone, and we proved it. So leave cynicism behind in 2013.

Secondly, when we had stopped believing we had any sporting talent, out it came. All over the place in all sorts of events. So look out this year’s calendar, and cheer on team GB again. Can Bradley Wiggins win this year’s Tour De France? Of course. Will a UK team win the Champions League? Why not? Will we end up top Test Cricket team? Probably.

Thirdly look ahead to some great UK events this year which will take our minds off last years. The Shard, Europe’s tallest building, will open to public viewing in February. Go see London as never before! There’s a great Pompeii exhibition at the British Museum. And it’s the Ashes –again!

So I am gearing up for a great 2013. There are bright spots too for those in foreign affairs, to answer our cynics who believe nothing good ever happens in a difficult and conflict ridden world. Croatia, barely twenty years after appalling Balkan conflict will join the EU, and two hundred years after the UK, Canada and the US were involved in fighting each other in the war of 1812, a major conference will spell out what our peaceful partnership since has offered the world.

Good luck!

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Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Bedford Hospital

Falls are a common but often overlooked source of injury and sometimes death. In 2009 in England and Wales, there were 3,593 deaths as a result of falls.

Locally, over the last three years, Bedford Hospital has treated 16,474 patients with injuries related to falls and trips. With this in mind, at this very busy time of year for accident and emergency, it’s vital that everyone does their best to keep safe.

Slip and trip accidents often increase during the Autumn and Winter months for a number of reasons; there is less daylight, leaves fall onto paths and become wet and slippery and cold weather spells cause ice and snow to build up on paths.

Everyone can be at risk of having a fall, but older adults are more vulnerable than others. As well as the increased risk in the Autumn and Winter, this is mainly due to long-term health conditions that can increase the chances of a fall. Young children are also particularly at risk of being injured as a result of a fall. There is much that you can do to help prevent yourself or someone you care for from falling, resulting in an injury requiring a trip to Accident and Emergency.

Older people - Around 30% of adults who are over 65 and living at home will experience at least one fall a year. This rises to 50% of adults over 80 who are either at home or in residential care. 20% of older adults will require medical attention for a fall and 5% will experience a serious injury, such as a broken bone. In the UK, injuries that are caused by falls are the most common cause of death in people over the age of 75. In older women, falls can be particularly troublesome because osteoporosis (thinning and weakening of the bones) is a widespread problem.

What causes a fall in older people? The natural ageing process often places older adults at an increased risk of having a fall, for example some chronic health conditions, poor vision and disabilities that are more common in older people are three age related reasons why older people are more likely to have a fall. However, among older adults, the most common reasons for accidentally falling or slipping include: • wet or recently polished floors, such as in a bathroom • dim light • rugs or carpets that are not properly secured • reaching for storage areas, such as cupboards • stairs Another common cause of falls, particularly among

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older men, is falling from a ladder while carrying out home maintenance work.

Preventing a fall - Advice from your GP can help with minimising falls; if you are at risk ask them about vitamin D supplements which strengthen muscles and bones and has been shown to help to prevent falls in older people, strength and balance training, for example, the Chinese martial art Tai Chi has been shown to be very useful for older people. A medication review may be needed, as some side effects can increase the risk of trips and falls and it may be time to have a sight test if you feel that poor vision is increasing your risk of falling. There are also several simple everyday measures that older people can take to help prevent a fall, which include; • using non-slip rugs and mats, particularly in the bathroom • mopping up spills to avoid wet floors • getting help lifting or moving items that are heavy or difficult to lift • removing clutter, trailing wires and frayed carpet • ensuring that all areas of the home are properly lit, using high-wattage light bulbs in lamps and torches so that you can see clearly • organising the home so that climbing, stretching and bending are kept to a minimum and to avoid bumping into things • getting help to do things that you are unable to do safely on your own • not walking on slippery floors in socks or tights • not wearing loose-fitting, trailing clothes that might trip you up • wearing well-fitting shoes that are in good condition and support the ankle • taking care of your feet by trimming toenails regularly, using moisturiser and seeing a GP or chiropodist about any foot problems Stuart Lloyd Emergency Medicine Consultant said, “A home hazard assessment may be available to help look at where there are risks. This involves a healthcare professional, with experience in fall prevention, visiting your home to identify potential hazards and to offer advice. The charity Age UK also provides information and advice about ways to make household tasks easier and safer or contact your GP to see what help might be available to you.

In fact, all healthcare professionals take falls in older people very seriously because of the serious impact that falls can have, so if you are worried you may be at risk your concerns will be taken seriously.”

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YOUR FIVE STEP GUIDE

TO RECOVERING FROM A FINANCIAL HANGOVER So again we find ourselves starting the New Year on the financial back foot, following overindulgence at Christmas. While this dilemma may seem inescapable, it is certainly not without remedy. Here’s how to begin your New Year with a proactive monetary success story rather than spending Q1 worried about cash flow. This is your five-step guide to recovering from a Christmas financial hangover.

1. Personal Preparation Start by deciding whether you’re going to use a paper notepad or software. Some people prefer pen and paper, but software for personal finance management or even just a spreadsheet will give you an efficient way to keep track of your funds using an intuitive interface.

Next, you need to bolster your conviction to rectify the situation. If you’ve had good intentions in the past to tackle your finances but found yourself falling by the wayside, you’ll understand the importance of this step. A process touted by many world-renowned business coaches is to take a notepad and create two columns. On one side, put the positive things which will come from organising your money, and on the other list the downsides of what will happen and how failure will feel. This process can transform your intentions from whimsical fancy into serious conviction.

2. Assessing Your Situation Before addressing the problem at hand, you need to understand what the damage is. This means coming to terms with exactly how much you spent and involves delving into the nitty-gritty of your naughtiness, a psychologically repelling task that is tempting to avoid.

If you haven’t had your credit card statement in yet, sit down with a notepad or a spreadsheet and tally up what you spent on Christmas presents. After this, do a rough calculation of what was spent on other factors such as food, drink and travel. You can always phone your card company and ask for the current balance if you’ve lost track.

3. Laying Down Your Targets Next, make a comprehensive list of every single essential outgoing for the month including an allowance for food. Once you know what this figure is, subtract it from your income and you will

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know exactly how much is left to divide between your card bill/overdraft and other spending for the coming months.

4. Breaking Your Targets Down Breaking targets down into milestones is another strategy adopted by many renowned business coaches. Once you have your monthly budget, you can then break down your weekly, or even daily spending allowance. If you stick to these targets, you cannot fail and by the end of your plan, you will inevitably be free from your Christmas financial woes. Be as detailed as possible in your planning, accounting for any and all expenditures.

5. Other Steps to Take It’s common when struggling to get on top of finances to avoid contacting organisations to whom money is owed, such as credit card or utility bill companies. Ironically, communication can gain a great deal of leeway here. If necessary, phone up and inform them you’re unable to pay the bill this month but you can pay extra at the end of February. They will often be more than happy to accommodate, allowing you get on with your day-to-day life, conscience unburdened from money issues.

If you continue to struggle to make ends meet, there are companies out there to help. Both CCCS (http://www.cccs.co.uk) and Payplan (http:// www.payplan.com/) are organisations set up to offer free advice and also debt management plans for those in need. Best of luck.

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Cape Town

BY SOLANGE HANDO Draped like a silver necklace around the green slopes of Signal Hill, Cape Town, the ‘Mother City’, is an intriguing mix of pastel-coloured walls, red roofs and mighty skyscrapers lapped by the Atlantic surf.

Dutch and British settlers left a fair heritage, from the star-shaped castle of Good Hope to the Houses of Parliament, the Anglican Cathedral, once the diocese of Desmund Tutu, and the Company’s Gardens. The modern town has tree-lined avenues and upmarket stores but in the midst of it all are quaint colonial buildings and colourful alleyways, especially in the Malay district, a favourite location for film producers and still home to descendants of Asian slaves.

Seapoint is a leisurely place to picnic on the lawns, stroll on the promenade to enjoy the ocean breeze or gaze at fur seals basking on the rocks.

Meanwhile beyond the lively Greenmarket at the heart of town, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront bustles from morning to night. There are fishing boats along the quay, English pubs and al fresco restaurants, Zulu dancers, Jazz musicians and people of all ages having a good time. It’s a great place to sample fresh seafood or a mega ice cream, hunt for the finest African craft or sail around the harbour feeling at home as you gaze at the bright red Victorian clock tower. A dainty pedestrian bridge swings now and then to let the boats go through and Table Mountain looks down on the scene in quiet splendour.

Silhouetted against the blue sky or lost in the mist at over 1000 metres, the mountain has a mind of its own so it’s best to check the forecast and

choose a good day to head for the top. Some visitors walk up the steep trails, three hours or so by the easiest route, most queue for the cable car to be whizzed up to the summit in just six minutes. The platform revolves so everyone has a turn to look at the view, more vertiginous as you climb until you near the top, hanging just metres from the sheer cliff face.

Up there, the panorama takes your breath away, from the glistening city and harbour to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held in captivity, now a sanctuary for seabirds and penguins, from the verdant Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head to the Cape peninsula and the Twelve Apostles stretching into the ocean. Myriad footpaths crisscross the vast rocky plateau, sprinkled with 1500 species of plants, among them flowering protea and golden fynbos. There are Cape canaries and orange sunbirds, goat antelopes and elands, baboons and rock hyraxes, resembling oversized guinea pigs, who have wisely set up home near the coffee shop.

Suddenly the fog horn blows, sending everyone rushing back to the cable car. Mist rolls across the mountain tops, the temperature drops, the view disappears and you can’t see the edge of the cliff. It’s a relief to head back down into the sunshine where the ocean rolls as far as you can see and the beat of African drums and dancers echoes along the waterfront. Table Mountain has vanished like a dream but on the eastern slopes of the National Park, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens release their most exotic fragrance in the setting sun.

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BEDFORD BOROUGH BESTOWS

HIGHEST POSSIBLE HONOUR Bedford’s Olympic Gold Medallist, Etienne Stott, has been conferred as an Honorary Freeman of Bedford Borough at a ceremony today.

The 33-year-old, who attended Castle Lower School, Goldington Middle School and Biddenham Upper School and also remains a member of the Viking Kayak Club in Bedford, was presented with a framed Deed of Conferment by the Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson this morning.

Stott won Gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games in the C2 Canoe Slalom with his partner Tim Baillie.

He was one of the athletes welcomed back to the borough in September when thousands lined the streets for the Olympic and Paralympic Homecoming Parade as well as the unveiling of the Etienne Stott White Water Arena on the River Great Ouse. He was also guest of honour at the Christmas lights switch on in November.

Etienne Stott was joined on the day at an intimate gathering by a range of people who have contributed to his success. This included former teachers, representatives of his Scout group and a number of fellow members of the Viking Kayak Club. Speaking after the presentation, he said: “It has been a whirlwind few months since the Olympics and this is a wonderful honour to round off a fantastic 2012.

“I am very grateful to receive this honour today and I would also like to thank all the people of Bedford Borough for their support throughout the year.”

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “This is the highest honour we can bestow on an individual and it is richly deserved.

“Etienne thrilled us all with his performance at the Olympic Games in London by winning gold, and his efforts stood out even amongst a long list of memorable sporting moments in 2012.

“Etienne has gone to great lengths to share his triumph with the community since that day and through activities such as numerous school visits, attendance at local events and much more he has shown what an inspirational role model he is, especially for young people locally.

“It was a privilege to present Etienne with this honour, and to have the chance to once again say ‘well done’ for his outstanding achievements and his contribution both to his sport and to Bedford Borough.”

The full list of those who enjoy the Honorary Freedom of the Borough is available on the Council website: http://www.bedford.gov.uk/ council_and_democracy/civic_and_ceremonial/ honorary_freemen_of_borough.aspx

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‘HIDDEN GEM’

SWISS GARDEN SET FOR £2.8M RESTORATION Garlands of roses frame the Cascade Bridge in the Swiss Garden.

Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

Old Warden’s delightful Swiss Garden will undergo a full restoration over the coming three years after The Shuttleworth Trust succeeded in winning a £2.8m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The much loved Swiss Garden is a rare Regency park whose first owner Lord Ongley wanted to recreate a Swiss landscape close to home in the fashionable Picturesque style. In the 1870s the Garden was bought by the industrialist Joseph Shuttleworth who introduced Victorian ‘improvements’, while keeping the original Regency layout.

HLF’s grant will enable the Shuttleworth Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council to repair the Garden’s 13 listed buildings and structures including the Swiss Cottage, the Indian Kiosk, the Grotto and Fernery, ornate ironwork bridges and arches, stone animals and birds, marble memorial tablets and stone and metal urns.

Volunteers wanted Local residents are encouraged to get involved in the Swiss Garden. The aim is to attract a wide range of people to volunteer in, visit and enjoy the Swiss Garden. There is a variety of roles and hours can be flexible to fit in with other commitments.

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If you are interested in volunteering at the Swiss Garden, please contact: The Swiss Garden Tel: 01767 627666 Email: swissgardenoffice@shuttleworth.org Special Closing Day Event On Saturday 5th January from 10.30am to 3pm the Swiss Garden will be open to the public for the last time before the restoration work begins.

The day will include free entry to the Garden plus a free Exhibition ‘Past, Present and Future’ in the Princess Charlotte Room in the Visitor Centre, where there will also be refreshments.

Staff and volunteers will be on hand to provide more information about the plans for the Garden, including volunteer and apprenticeship opportunities.

Hugh Duberly CBE LL, Chairman of the Shuttleworth Trust said: “We look forward to welcoming many more people to the Garden as the restoration work progresses. We’re confident that they will be delighted with its originality and beauty.”

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A host of golden daffodils lead to the Swiss Cottage at the Swiss Garden.

Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

Shuttleworth Trust The Shuttleworth Trust was created in 1940 by Dorothy Shuttleworth in memory of her son Richard who was killed in a flying accident aged 31.

As well as the Swiss Garden, the Trust is custodian of the Shuttleworth Collection of historic aircraft.

Old Warden Park is also home to the Bird of Prey centre and Shuttleworth College which specialises in land and environment courses.

Heritage Lottery Fund Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 33,000 projects with more than £5billion across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk.

Lilac wisteria in full bloom in the Swiss Garden Grotto. Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting plans to restore the Swiss Garden as well as providing muchneeded learning and volunteering programmes and four apprenticeships.”

Snow and ice across the lake at the Swiss Garden.

Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

THE SWISS GARDEN

Shuttleworth Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Beds Tel: 01767 627666 Website: www.shuttleworth.org Email: swissgardenoffice@shuttleworth.org To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

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Winter Injuries BREAKAGE FROM ICE/SNOW ACCUMULATIONS Trees and Shrubs with poor structure and heavy/long limbs are prone to breakage due to the added weight of ice and snow.

STEM SPLITTING DE-ICING/SALT ACCUMULATIONS Generally occurs on young thin (Road Rock Salt) Commonly used to de-ice barked trees such as Maple, Lime, highways and pavements. The Sycamore and Elm. The injury occurs from sudden drops high levels of salt in the soil from in temperature from a sunny pavement run off can kill plant roots. Sodium can be highly daytime high to very low nighttime temperatures. toxic to plants with salt spray significantly damages plant foliage.

Wood decay can pre-dispose branches and lead to failure from ice and snow loads. Evergreens that have a large surface area to hold snow are especially prone to breakage.

These may cause stem tissue Symptoms: Progressive decline in plant vigour, leaves become freezing of the plant cells dwarfed and brown with die-back resulting in frost cracks. and eventual death.

Recommendations Plants should be inspected by a professional arborist in late winter or early spring for symptoms of winter injuries. Plants stressed by winter injuries are more susceptible to pest and disease issues.

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Fun Quiz - Review of 2012 1. In January 2012, a cruise ship called the Costa Concordia partially sank after hitting a rock off the coast of which country?

2. Of all the national football teams taking part in Euro 2012, which one was making their European Championship debut?

3. Whose knighthood, awarded in 2004 for services to banking, was annulled in February 2012?

4. Which famous person gave birth to a baby girl, called Blue Ivy Carter, in January 2012?

5. The 2012 Summer Olympics became the first at which every sport included female competitors due to women competing for the first time in events in which sport?

6. What nationality is Felix Baumgartner, who, in October 2012, became the first skydiver to travel faster than the speed of sound?

7. With the real first names of John Thomas, which famous sportsman died in March 2012?

8. What was the name of the dog that danced to victory with Ashleigh in the 2012 series of Britain’s Got Talent?

9. In June 2012, which novel by E.L. James became the fastest adult paperback novel ever to sell one million print copies?

10. What was the title of the song written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?

Before

After

1. Italy 2. Ukraine 3. Fred Goodwin’s 4. Beyonce 5. Boxing 6. Austrian 7. Jocky Wilson 8. Pudsey 9. Fifty Shades Of Grey 10. Sing

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SEASONAL DELIGHTS CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

If you have a bowlful of nuts left over from Christmas then why not make this classic American favourite with a British twist – simply replace half the pecan nuts with walnuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts. Serve with a dollop of thick Greek yoghurt or whipped cream.

Serves 8 Ready in 1½ hours plus chilling INGREDIENTS For the pastry: 225g plain flour 100g butter, diced 1 medium egg, beaten with 2tbsp cold water For the filling: 100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 50g butter, diced 75g golden syrup 4 tbsp maple syrup 75g caster sugar 4 medium eggs, beaten 175g pecan nuts (or a mixture of pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts) 1 To make the pastry, sift the flour into a bowl and add the diced butter. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Stir in the egg and water and mix to a crumbly dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth.

Wrap and chill the pastry for 20 minutes.

2 Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 25cm round deep metal pie tin (or a loose-based fluted flan tin). Crimp the pastry edge with your fingers and prick the base all over with a fork. Chill for 30 minutes.

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3 Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 and place a baking sheet in the oven to heat.

To make the filling, melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and stir in the golden syrup, maple syrup and sugar then whisk in the beaten eggs.

Chop half the nuts and stir into the mixture.

4 Gently pour the mixture into the pastry case and sprinkle over the rest of the nuts (roughly chopping the hazelnuts and Brazil nuts, if using). Slide the pie tin onto the preheated baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and bake for a further 2530 minutes until the filling has set and the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

9 X 9 PUZZLE

How to play It’s simple! 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 puzzle.

Watch out! Sudoku is highly addictive.

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what’S ON?

IN JANUARY

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 January Whist Drive 7.30pm Great Barford Bowls Club, School Lane, Great Barford Cost £1.50 Every Wednesday.

Tel: Beryl Seymour 01234 308844 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Bridge Club 7.30pm Roxton Village Hall, Roxton Cost £2.00 Every Thursday. Newcomers welcome.

Tel: Beryl Seymour 01234 308844 5 January Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Small charge for visitors Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk by Mike Brown on ‘All in a garden green-the features you may find in an historic garden’ Mike is an ex Head Gardener and College Lecturer, who designed the medieval gardens at Prebendal Manor, Northants. He is also a consultant for other projects. All welcome.

Tel: Winifred 01234 721720 Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5 & 6 January Antique & Collectors Fair Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 9am-4pm Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester Adults & Concessions £3.50, Children Free, Online price Adults & Concessions £2.50 Whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector looking to complete a cherished collection, or an enthusiast searching for the ‘once in a lifetime’ treasure, the fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables.

Web: www.aztecevents.co.uk 26

Entries into our What’s On sections are free. If you have an event you would like us to publicise please email the details to whatson@villagermag.com

16 January Social/Dance Afternoon 2-4.30pm Addison Centre, Kempston, Bedford Members £2.50, Non-members £5.

Pay at door. Bedford Organ & Keyboard Club present well-known entertainer John Lee. Tel: 01234 344423 Web: http://www.organfax.co.uk/clubs/ bedford2 17 January Skeptics in the Pub 7pm for 7.30pm start The White Horse, Newham Ave, Bedfordevin McConway presents “Statistics in the Media”.

When it comes to statistics, scientists, sceptics and statisticians often think of the media and journalists as a hotbed of confusion, distortion and, well, damned lies.

These beliefs are not baseless - there is some appalling nonsense out there - but there is good statistical journalism too. The talk, which draws on experience as a statistician of working with print and broadcast journalists, will discuss and give examples of what can go wrong, what can go right. Good journalists are better communicators than are most scientists or statisticians; if we want to get our ideas and research findings into the public consciousness, we need to learn from journalism and we need to learn how to work with journalists and the ’old’ media.

26 January Bedford Sinfonia - A Festival of Britten 7.30pm Bedford Corn Exchange, St Pauls Square, Bedford Tickets £10-13 Celebrate the centenary of the birth of one of the greatest British composers and pack our concert with some of his outstanding works - Four Sea Interludes; Sinfonia da Requiem; Violin Concerto; Gloriana Dances. Soloist: Jaroslaw Nadrzycki; Conductor: Michael Rose.

Tel: Bedford Box Office 01234 718112

Oven Cleaning! - It’s a dirty job!

Why do it yourself?

We clean ovens using non-caustic, non-toxic products in your home.

Ovens • Ranges • Hobs • Extractors Agas • Microwaves • Barbecues (May - Sept) Single Oven (all racks/pans inc)........................£35 Single Oven & Grill Oven (all racks/pans inc).....£45 Single Separate Grill Oven (racks/pans inc)......£15 Microwaves & Combination Ovens....................£20 Extractor Fan (free filter for next clean).............£12 Hob..................................................................£12 . . .

Agas and Ranges priced accordingly Oven Bulbs replaced for free in all jobs V.A.T free

Contact James on: 01767 260188 or Mobile: 07812 666081 email: ovenmen@live.co.uk You can also book at www.ovenmen.com

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Qualified professional engineer 25 years experience I specialise in solving your plumbing problems Tap washers to boilers All work guaranteed No job too small Your local recommended engineer

Tel: 01234 772603 Mob: 07702 481 385

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Ty Interiors Prize Crossword

1st Prize £25 Name:

Sponsored by Ty Interiors, The Olde Watermill Shopping Village, Faldo Road, Barton Le Clay, MK45 4RF

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before 18th January 2013.

Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel:

Address:

Please enter me into the prize draw to be drawn at end of 3 months for £1000 off a fully fitted kitchen. T&C’s apply. (Please tick) Last Month’s Crossword Winners. Congratulations to: 1st prize - Mr P Chells from Great Barford and 2nd prize - Heather Grant from Sandy For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com Across 1 Argument (7) 5 Engine (5) 8 Certain (9) 9 Rodent (3) 10 Nightclub (5) 12 Oblivious (7) 13 Musical backing (13) 15 Operating room (7) 17 Edition (5) 19 Ocean (3) 20 Young adults (9) 22 Fashion (5) 23 Weekday (7) Down 1 Chopped up (5) 2 Male child (3) 3 Alike (7) 4 Incentive (13) 5 TV, radio (5) 6 Intimidates (9) 7 Draw back (7) 11 Personal Assistant (9) 13 Painters (7) 14 Copy (7) 16 Heading (5) 18 Thesis (5) 21 Finish (3)

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Pleasemention mentionThe TheVillager Villagerand andTown TownLife Lifewhen whenresponding respondingtotoadverts adverts Please

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Telephone: 01234 317063 Fax: 01234 317760 Email: info@dentonwhiston.com Website: www.dentonwhiston.com

Call 01234 317063 for a rapid response and expert advice on property repairs following flood, fire or accidental damage

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Commercial Property Maintenance

Let us look after your buildings so that you can take care of your business. We provide both planned maintenance and emergency building repair services for businesses and institutions throughout Beds, Bucks and Northants.

Call us today on 01234 317063 to discuss your organisation’s planned and emergency building needs. We support customers with single and multiple locations, and in a variety of business sectors including retail, financial services, public sector and housing associations. Whatever your property maintenance needs, we can work with you to produce a tailored package, employing a range of fully qualified tradesmen across the region.

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The Milton Keynes Marathon

IS BACK!

HOT on the heels of its success this year, the 2013 Milton Keynes Marathon takes place on Monday 6 May and Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice is hoping that runners will take the challenge and support the charity.

Unlike the London Marathon, the Milton Keynes race is truly a green event with the 26.2 mile course taking in over 4,500 aces of woodland, lakesides, parks and landscaped areas within the city boundary.

All participants are guaranteed a ‘big marathon’ experience with lots of entertainment on route to help motivate them and attract spectators.

Sue Ryder will be there on the day to support, cheer and meet all their runners at the end of the race in the charity village.

Running a marathon is an amazing experience and achievement, and using the opportunity to raise money for charity makes it all the more worthwhile. Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice provides invaluable specialist medical and nursing

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care for patients who are seriously ill, along with family support and chaplaincy. The hospice also provides lymphoedema and complementary therapy treatments in its recently refurbished day unit. It relies on donations from the public and sponsorship to keep its doors open.

For those who cannot wait to take part in the Milton Keynes Marathon, there are still places available at the Brighton Marathon on 14 April 2013 and the London Marathon on 21 April 2013.

For more information about taking part in the Milton Keynes, Brighton or London Marathon for Sue Ryder please contact Jessica Wilson, Regional Fundraiser at St John’s Hospice on 01767 642422, email: jessica.wilson@sueryder.org.

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To find out more call Christa on 07868 369257 or email christa@villagermag.com

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