Granchester May 2013

VILLAGER The

Issue 3 - May 2013

and Town

Life

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

7,000 copies delivered to Bourn, Comberton, Granchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and surrounding villages

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VILLAGER

In this Issue

The

and Town

Issue 3 - May 2013

Life

16

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

Wildlife Wanderings Wildlife Travel 7,000 copies delivered to Bourn, Comberton, Granchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and surrounding villages

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Advertising Sales Christa Hallam - Tel: 07868 369257 Christa@villagermag.com Additional Editorial Dean Dunham, Fiona McLeman Christine Donnelly, Kate McLelland, Solange Hando, Alex Brown and Julia Faulks Front Cover Photo: Vhamrick Design and Artwork Design 9 - Tel 07762 969460 Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122

Prize Crossword £25 could be yours!

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7 Myths

Retailers May Tell You Bringing in the May..................................................................4 Tallinn Old Town, Estonia........................................................6 Study for Success.......................................................................8 Perfect Posture........................................................................ 10 BBCK@Home............................................................................ 13 Fun Quiz..................................................................................... 13 Decisions, Decisions.............................................................. 14 Free Compost Giveaway...................................................... 18 Animal Queries........................................................................ 21 Seasonal Delights................................................................... 23 Puzzle Page............................................................................... 24 What’s On.................................................................................. 26 7 Myths Retailers May Tell You........................................... 30

Email: nigel@villagermag.com

VILLAGER The

and Town Life

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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Bringing in the May

By Kate McLelland

One of the best indications that summer is about to arrive is when Britain’s hedgerows explode with the pink and white blossoms of the hawthorn.

The hawthorn is one of those quintessentially English trees: although quietly unobtrusive for most of the year, it bursts into spectacular life in the late spring, with flowers crowded so densely together they look like snowfall. In the autumn it glows with clusters of red berries.

No wonder the tree features so strongly in ancient folklore. The old name for hawthorn was “may” and the flower of the may tree has long been considered a symbol of hope. It even gave its name to The Mayflower, the famous ship that sailed from England in 1620, transporting a stalwart band of pilgrims to build a new life in America.

As its alternative name suggests, hawthorn was central to ancient May Day celebrations.

The old Celtic festival of May Day was known as ‘Beltane’ after the Celtic god of light, or the sun.

The beginning of summer was also celebrated in Ancient Rome at the Floralia festival (dedicated to the flower goddess Flora), which took place at roughly the same time. May Day celebrations in Britain were probably a hybrid of both traditions mixed up with Druidic tree worship, and the introduction of Christianity did little to dispel these pagan traditions.

On the first day of May, villagers would wake at daybreak and roam through the countryside, gathering flowers and hawthorn twigs to decorate their houses. A maypole – usually the trunk of a birch tree, stripped of its branches and decorated with ribbons and flowers - was set up in the middle of the village green.

In olden times maypoles were constructed with three rings on the top - the highest and smallest was made of hawthorn. The community danced around the pole, singing traditional songs, while the men of the village performed Morris dances and the prettiest girl, dressed in floral garlands, was crowned Queen of the May. Occasionally a May King was also chosen, and the pair ruled over the festivities. In Elizabethan times, the king and queen were given the names ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Maid Marian’.

These celebrations were derived from ancient

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fertility rituals and the ‘greenwood marriages’ that took place provide clear evidence of this.

Often young girls came home from their country rambles with more than a garland of flowers.

As one observer wrote: “I have hearde of tenne maidens whiche went to set May, and nine of them came home with childe.”

May Day festivities reached their height in England during the Middle Ages but in 1644 the Puritans passed a law which made them illegal. This attempt to repress the celebrations eventually failed, mainly because they were too deeply rooted in rural culture. When the monarchy was restored some years later and Charles II came to the throne, people all over the country put up maypoles as a sign of loyalty to the crown.

For the next two hundred years the old customs continued, but interest in May Day traditions began to fade. They enjoyed a brief revival in the Victorian era but any connection to fertility rites was deliberately overlooked and maypole dancing was reduced to an innocent children’s game.

Sadly by this time the hawthorn – once the embodiment of hope for the coming summer – had also lost its significance, becoming just another tree in the British landscape.

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5

Tallinn Old Town - Estonia

By Solange Hando

Long ago on Toompea Hill, the noble families of Tallinn enjoyed fresh air and stunning views while at their feet, artisans and traders earned their living in dark mysterious lanes. Nowadays, in Estonia’s capital, the hill top welcomes everyone with its lovely esplanades looking down on red gabled roofs, cobbled alleyways, lofty spires and the remains of the city wall. The Baltic Sea glistens in the distance and the chiming of bells mingles with bird song.

Up there, two cathedrals beckon, the old Lutheran church with tombs and coats of arms and the modern Russian Orthodox with golden mosaics and onion-shaped domes. Girls in Estonian dress sell roasted almonds on a quiet square and the Old Town, now a World Heritage site, tumbles down the picturesque streets, known as ‘Tallinn’s two legs’. In the humble Danish King’s Garden, they say, Valdemar II rested on his way to Toompea and inspired by a vision of what would become the Danish flag, he led his troops to victory.

All around, flowering plants and medieval Guild signs line the meandering steps and alleyways where small art galleries and craft shops mingle with outdoor cafés and secluded courtyards.

Look out for St Nicholas church, famous for its silver and dancing skeletons and St Olav’s which, when it was built in 1500, claimed the world’s tallest spire. The House of the Black Heads Brotherhood was for young unmarried merchants, protected by an African saint, and the ‘Fat Margaret’ tower, named after a cook, is now the Maritime Museum.

Now and then, you catch a glimpse of the limestone city wall, dating back to the 13th century, over a mile long altogether and dotted with fairy tale towers, including the ivy-draped Viru Gate, the city’s icon, and the strangelynamed ‘Maidens’ Tower’ where prostitutes were sent to jail. St Catherine’s Passage and the Masters’ Courtyard are awash with ceramics, quilts and hand-painted silk, sheer delight for photographers, but gems await on every corner, here a Dominican Priory, there a flour mill, a Great Guildhall and on the Town Hall Square, the oldest pharmacy in Europe.

This colourful square has been the heart of town for 800 years. The Gothic Town Hall is a 15th century masterpiece, some say the best of its

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kind in Northern Europe, with dragons spouting water from the façade and Old Thomas, the local mascot, perched atop the tower. Pink, red, white or cream, tall merchant houses rise all around, bearing witness to the wealth of the Hanseatic League, a medieval guild which traded from the Baltic to the North Sea. Visitors gaze at the compass rose on the round stone and the great cauldrons of elk soup bubbling under the arcades where traditional restaurants beckon with furcovered chairs. Some seek out the Bishops’ House festooned in apostles’ niches, others make their way to the City’s Museum and its scale model of Tallinn but sooner or later, the bakeries beckon with tempting displays of hand-made chocolates and marzipan, invented right here, in the old pharmacy.

According to legend, the pharmacist was ill and the astute apprentice, who had to test all remedies, replaced the bitter herbs with sweet ingredients. Everyone loved it, especially the patients. So in Old Tallinn today, you’ll find marzipan in all shapes and colours and you can even try making your own in a local workshop.

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7

Study for Success

By Alex Brown

Get the results you want with our top tips Preparation is the key to revising effectively.

Make sure you know what type of exams you will have – short questions, multiple-choice or essays – and what topics they will cover. Organise your course notes and textbooks so that everything is easy to find. Work out how much time you have for each subject and don’t avoid the ones that you find particularly difficult – or easy.

Make a timetable, but don’t spend so long making it look beautiful that you’re behind before you start! Remember to include your other commitments and try to maintain your normal routine of mealtimes, exercise and so on. Think about the time of day that you work best – some people are night owls while others get more done in the early morning. Plan a ten-minute break in every hour and don’t work for more than three hours at a time.

Now divide the topics you need to learn into manageable chunks. To help memorise information, make notes and put as much as you can into your own words. Summarise key points and write them on index cards or sticky notes that you can put around the house. You may find that making a spider diagram or mind map is helpful.

Try inventing your own mnemonics, such as

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Never Eat Shredded Wheat for the points of the compass. You can also visualise a scene that includes details you need to remember – a battlefield or mountain habitat, for example.

Make the most of revision classes offered by your school or college. You could also revise with a friend – practice explaining difficult concepts and ask each other challenging questions.

Get hold of as many old exam papers and example questions as you can. Familiarise yourself with the way questions are worded and make sure you understand exactly what they are asking you to do. Prepare draft answers to questions that come up frequently. When the exam gets close, complete a paper within the time limit to get an idea of how quickly you need to work.

To keep motivated, reward yourself with a weekly treat such as a trip to the cinema or a favourite meal. But if it’s not going so well, don’t give up!

Adjust your timetable and focus on the areas you find most difficult, or common questions. Keep thinking about what a good grade will bring – a university place or that dream job.

The night before the exam, have a quick look through your notes, but don’t cram. Get an early night so you wake up refreshed and ready to go.

Good luck!

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9

Perfect Posture

by Julia Faulks

Slumping at our desks and hunching our shoulders as we walk are hard habits to break, especially as we age and there’s no one there to tell us to ‘stand up straight!’ Here’s how to perfect your posture…

As a nation we spend hours on our phones, laptops and in front of the TV, so it’s fair to say that posture is often the last thing on our mind.

However, years of bending, twisting, slumping on the sofa or hauling heavy bags around, could take their toll and end up damaging your spine.

Posture isn’t just about how you sit, but also affects the way you stand, lie down or move around. Bad posture can lead to back pain, repetitive strain injuries and may even worsen existing medical conditions. If you’re having a baby you need to be even more careful as pregnancy hormones will temporarily loosen your ligaments.

Many of us will just sit back and accept the nagging aches and pains we feel throughout the day, whether we’re at our desks or on our feet for long periods. But making vital changes to the way you look after your posture could save you problems further down the line.

Ergonomics (the posh name for posture) doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds - it’s just about supporting your back and reducing the strain that comes from aligning your body incorrectly. When sitting at a desk you can avoid bending awkwardly and straining muscles simply by readjusting your chair or positioning your keyboard and mouse in the right position.

Invest in some posture-friendly props, such as wrist or foot rests, as well as an ergonomic chair.

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Avoid holding your phone between your neck and shoulder, carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder, slumping forward in your chair, or slouching and hunching your shoulders over.

It’s worth remembering that good posture doesn’t just bring physical benefits - you will look and feel more confident and attractive when you stand up straight and proud. Some people even claim that good posture can knock pounds off (sadly, this is just a visual illusion, but hey, it’s far easier than dieting).

It’s also important to regularly exercise – walking and swimming are two easy activities that will help keep your spine healthy and your muscles in good shape.

Forget walking around the house with a book balancing on your head - the next time you feel yourself drooping, remember these basic tips: 1. Keep both of your feet flat on the floor when sitting – if you can’t reach the floor, use a footrest.

2. Make sure your back is resting against the back of the chair and avoid leaning forward.

3. As you walk, keep the weight on the balls of your feet, not your heels.

4. Don’t lock your knees and wear supportive footwear.

5. Stand up, have a stretch or go for a walk.

If you’re experiencing back ache or any other aches and pains that won’t go away it’s always a good idea to have it checked out by your doctor. You may also decide to search for a local osteopath who can decide what treatment you may need and give you some exercises that you can carry out at home.

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BbcK@ home

Open Day - Saturday 18th May 2013 Bassingbourn-cum-Kneesworth@home Open Day for the village – all welcome Saturday 18th May 2013 All day events 9.30am - 6.00pm Fun Fair – rides for children* Get on your bike – trails around the village and unique opportunity to Wimpole Hall through the MAIN GATES (15 miles – committed ride!)

Walking the ancient pathways (from 1.5 miles to 6 miles) Blue Plaque pop ups across the village Dry Pub crawl (discover the old pubs of Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth – 15 in all!)

Hog Roast * Market Square – arts and local crafts Open Studios – photography, art, line drawing, paper craft Spinning and Weaving demonstrations (all day) Scarecrow trail Classic Car parade Cream teas*

Special peal of bells (Morning) Meet our animals – chickens, donkeys, lamas, horses and lambs Historical conversation – presentations on village history (at Gas Works and Parish Church) Bernard O’ Connor explores the history of the Coprolite boom in Cambridgeshire and the Villages.

Photography across the century – archives of the WI and the United Reformed Church Try out – Bowls / village rounders/ Judo (Bassingbourn Village College) Entry by programme £2.50 each £5.00 per family. *there will be extra charges at these events for rides and food consumed.

Facebook: bbckathome.org.uk www.bbckathome.org.uk Email: info@bbckathome.org.uk

Fun Quiz - Colours 1. Which British city has an underground train system that is nicknamed the Clockwork Orange?

2. Who has been the longest-serving female presenter of the TV show Blue Peter?

3. In the lyrics of the Tom Jones hit single Green Green Grass Of Home, what is the name of the girl who has “hair of gold and lips like cherries”?

4. Who wrote The Hunt For Red October?

5. Yellow and Heather are the colours of which political party?

6. In The Wizard Of Oz, what is the name of the city that is at the end of the yellow brick road?

7. In the National Lottery’s main Lotto draw, there are five different colours of ball that can be picked. Four of these colours are used for ten balls, but which colour is only used for nine?

8. In which capital city would find the only McDonald’s where the large “M” sign is white instead of the standard yellow?

9. Which shade of purple was named after an 1869 battle in an Italian town?

10. In the world of TV, what was purple in 2000, black and white in 2001, red in 2002, blue in 2003, red in 2004, blue in 2005, gold in 2006, see through with neon lights in 2007, gold in 2008 and multicoloured in 2009?

1. Glasgow 2. Konnie Huq 3. Mary 4. Tom Clancy 5. The Scottish National Party 6. Emerald City 7. White (for balls numbered one to nine) 8. Paris (the yellow was deemed to be too tacky) 9. Magenta 10. The diary room chair on Big Brother

Before

After

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13

Decisions, Decisions

FIONA McLeman

Divorce and family solicitors tend to report an increase in new client enquiries after family holidays such as in the New Year (after the Christmas school holiday) and early September (after the Summer school Holiday). But how do you decide which lawyer to represent you if you end up on the path to relationship breakdown?

The best place to start is to ask those you trust.

Friends and family may have used a solicitor before, or may have friends and family who can give their personal seal of approval. Have a look at the firm’s website. Does it give you the right feel? Does it look as if you will feel comfortable with the lawyer and how they say they work?

Whether the lawyer is recommended or not, call the lawyer for an initial chat. A good lawyer will be prepared to have an initial chat with you at no cost. If they are too busy or not prepared to take your call at that early stage, rethink if you want to be a client of that lawyer?

Perhaps meet a couple of lawyers before making a decision. Most family solicitors offer a free initial meeting. Sometimes this can be limited to 30 minutes or one hour, or some lawyers charge a fixed cost for the first meeting. This is an

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excellent opportunity to get some practical and sensible advice, as well as meet the lawyer for the first time without the anxiety of being presented with a bill before you have made a decision about your future and any work has got under way. The lawyer should also be able to give you a good idea at that stage about the work involved and the costs, and help you weigh up your options.

Prepare for that first meeting by drawing up a list of questions, and perhaps email details of your situation to the lawyer ahead of time. This will also save valuable time and allow you to use the meeting to focus on the main issues, rather than treating it as a fact finding session.

The national family lawyers’ organisation www.resolution.org.uk is an excellent website where you will find lots of helpful information about family law, and family lawyers. Central to Resolution’s philosophy is to help clients in relationship breakdown in an amicable and constructive way. This is how any good family work will do their job. The website contains a ‘find a lawyer’ resource, as well as details of those lawyers who are accredited as specialists in certain specialist fields. www.legal500.com and www.chambersandpartners.co.uk are also widely used directories that survey lawyers nationwide and rate the lawyer in geographical and specialism sectors. Using these directories is a good opportunity to back up what you have seen and heard before making your final decision as to who to instruct.

Your lawyer is going to support you as you move forward with your life. As with making any choice about important things in life, it’s just as critical to do the research before making the right choice After that will affect you and your family.

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Judy Lenton

Cambridgeshire Foot Clinic Podiatry/Chiropody

B.A. (Hons) Lic,Ac. MBAcC

Traditional

located at

Headz Up 65 High Street Brampton Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE28 4TQ

Yvonne Siudak

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Podiatrist / Chiropodist Private Podiatry / Chiropody Care in Cambridge, UK A comprehensive service for all your foot care needs

Hard Skin • Corns • Nail Cutting Ingrown Toe Nails • Fungal Nail Infections General Foot Care • Verrucae Treatment • Laser Treatment • Diabetic Assessments • Biomechanical Assessments Full details of our specialist treatments are available, call Yvonne for an appointment:

Cambridgeshire Foot Clinic

20 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB4 3AX.

email

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or visit

www.judylentonacupuncture.co.uk

www.yourfootclinic.co.uk Also Bedfordshire Foot Clinic Tel: 01767 681 704

Dedicated support for clients in relationship breakdown:

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Separation Financial Settlements Change of Name Prenuptial Agreements Mediation

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Divorce Living together agreements Adoption Children issues Collaborative family law

Fiona McLeman Family Law is accredited by Resolution and the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a Specialist in Family Law. For a free initial consultation contact Fiona:

fiona@fmfamilylaw.co.uk, 07894095775, www.fmfamilylaw.co.uk Regus House, 1010 Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne CB23 6DP

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WILDLIFE WANDERINGS

WILDLIFE TRAVEL, BY CHRISTINE DONNELLY May is the favourite month for many gardeners and it is also the best month for seeing much of our local wildlife. If you take a walk in the countryside, or even in town, you will hear many different species of birds singing and may see their displays. Nightingales are now quite rare in this part of Cambridgeshire but several other birds also have beautiful songs so listen out for blackcaps and garden warblers which have just arrived for the summer. Our resident birds are also in full song, one of the loudest being the song thrush. Many people are surprised that other familiar birds such as blackbirds and robins also have lovely songs, and as they are easy to see they are helpful to those beginning to learn bird song!

Waterside reeds are the summer home of sedge and reed warblers, and even if you can’t see them, you can enjoy their noisy chatter. Several dragonflies are ‘on the wing’ in May, including some smaller species, known as damselflies. The flying adults normally live only a few weeks having emerged from an underwater larval life that may have lasted a few years. Their quick flight makes them difficult to see but look for them resting on leaves, including lily pads. More than a dozen species can be seen locally, distinguished by their colourful markings.

Large red damselfly Local grasslands vary in their character from wet meadows, chalky pastures and sandy heaths.

Although the latter usually have a richer wildlife later in the year, sites such as Gamlingay Cinques are worth visiting in spring to see the bright yellow gorse and the delicate blue harebell, a type of campanula. For a taste of summer, join the Wildlife Trust on the 8th of May for their Dusk Watch at Woodwalton Fen. Summer is here on the islands in the south of Britain and just starting on more northerly isles.

May is a wonderful time to visit the Isles of Scilly, off Cornwall’s coast. These tranquil islands are famous for their ‘sub-tropical’ climate and you can see why when you visit the fascinating gardens at Tresco or see the fields of naturalised gladioli

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or take a boat ride to the outer isles to see the birdlife and seals. Ireland is more famous for its culture than its wildlife but it has internationally important sites for nesting seabirds and botanical rarities. The Burren, in the far west, is a stunning limestone landscape that has a rare community of plants including spring gentian, dense-flowered orchid and mountain avens which grow elsewhere in alpine, arctic or Mediterranean areas but, here, can be seen against the magical background of ancient tombs and Celtic crosses.

‘Bloody’ cranesbill, the Burren May is also an important month for Europe’s few remaining areas of wilderness, particularly in the east where vast tracts of forests and wetlands survive as refuges for wildlife that was once common over much of the continent, including Britain. Poland’s Bialowieza Forest, Romania’s Danube Delta and the Carpathian Mountains are home to many species including brown bear, wolf and lynx. The Delta contains numerous lakes and channels that provide breeding sites for large flocks of pelicans, terns, herons and many other waterbirds as well as amphibians, reptiles and otter.

Pelicans, Danube Delta, Romania Wildlife Travel has been running holidays to all of these destinations and others worldwide for 25 years. Contact them on 01954 713575 or check www.wildlife-travel.co.uk.

For information on local wildlife contact The Wildlife Trust on 01954 713500 or visit www.wildlifebcn.org.

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Bank Holiday

Monday Markets

St Ives

6th and 27th May

8am~3pm Wide variety of stalls Children’s entertainment

~+~ Street food • Fabrics • Plants Knitwear • Bird tables • Jewellery Pet food • Handbags • Bread Fruit and Veg • Books • Olives • Fashions ~◊~

~ 5 minutes walk from the guided bus park and ride ~ www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/markets

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giveaway

As part of Compost Awareness Week from 6 to 12 May 2013, Huntingdonshire District Council is holding a compost giveaway, where green fingered residents can take advantage of FREE compost.

This year there are two giveaways where residents can get their hands on free compost.

On Tuesday 7 May, from 10am until 2pm, join the Environment Team in Riverside Car Park, Huntingdon, and on Thursday 9 May from 10am until 2pm find them in Riverside Car Park, St Neots.

The compost being given away has been transformed from your green bin waste into a wonderful soil improver by waste management company Amey Cespa. There will be a limited amount of compost to give away, and once it’s gone, it’s gone! The compost will be loose, so please take a bag and council staff will shovel it for you.

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Hidato Starting at 1 and finishing at 34, track your way from one hexagon to another (touching) hexagon, placing consecutive numbers into the empty shapes as you go.

Some numbers are already given.

25 23

27 21 18

14

16

30 5

12

1

6

34

9

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Can I go to the Paddocks for my Holiday please?

Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded.

Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs.

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Comfort and security for your pet.

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ANIMAL QUERIES

RSPCA NORTH BEDS

Dear RSPCA vet, My husband keeps telling me that I shouldn’t give my cat ‘treats’ as she is overweight. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Ruth, Sandy Dear Ruth, Obesity – having too much body fat – is a disease that needs to be taken seriously. It can impair the health, welfare and quality of life of your pet.

Studies have estimated that 22-44 per cent of dogs are overweight or obese, and these figures are similar for cats.

Just a few examples of potentially serious medical conditions associated with obesity in pets include: diabetes mellitus, orthopaedic disease, heart disease, respiratory distress, high blood pressure, skin diseases and cancers.

For dogs and cats there are a few simple checks you can do regularly, which can help you to prevent your pet from becoming obese: • You should be able to see and feel the outline of your pet’s ribs without excess fat covering.

• You should be able to see and feel your pet’s waist and it should be clearly visible when viewed from above.

• Your pet’s belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side.

If your pet doesn’t pass all three checks, or if you are in any doubt about your pet’s weight, always consult your vet. They will be able to give your pet a health check and, if necessary, they’ll recommend a weight reduction programme. This will most likely involve making changes to your pet’s diet and making recommendations about exercise and activity. Making these changes will help prevent your pet from gaining excess body fat and keep your pet healthy and happy.

ANIMAL QUERIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA North Bedfordshire branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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SEASONAL DELIGHTS

CHEESE, BACON AND ONION PIE Tip Serve simply with a fresh tomato salad made by thickly slicing ripe vine tomatoes and layering with finely chopped spring onions and a few fresh basil leaves. Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper.

1 To make the pastry, sift the flour into a large bowl and stir in the mustard powder and salt. Add the diced butter and rub into the flour between your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

2 Stir in enough of the iced water with a round bladed knife to mix to a crumbly dough.

Knead very lightly until just smooth then flatten into a disc and wrap in cling film. Chill for 20-25 minutes.

Perfect for a simple lunch or for an early summer picnic this savoury pie has a really rich and buttery crisp pastry and a tasty smoked bacon and onion filling. It tastes just as delicious warm or cold. Look for packs of smoked bacon pieces near the bacon rashers in the supermarket or use flavoursome Italian diced pancetta instead.

FOR THE PASTRY 225g plain flour 1 tsp mustard powder Pinch of salt 115g butter, chilled and diced 4-5 tbsp iced water FOR THE FILLING 175g smoked bacon pieces 4 onions, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tbsp sunflower oil 200g mature Cheddar cheese, grated Beaten egg, to glaze Tomato salad, to serve (see Tip) Makes 8 slices Ready in 1½ hours, plus chilling

3 Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Dry-fry the bacon pieces in a large non-stick frying pan for 4-5 minutes until just golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the oil and sliced onions to the pan and fry gently, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes until the onions are very tender and pale golden. Leave to cool. Preheat the oven to 190°C, 375°F, Gas Mark 5. Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up.

4 Roll out just over half the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 20x30cm loose-based fluted flan tin. Layer the bacon, onions and grated cheese in the pastry case and season between the layers with freshly ground black pepper.

5 Roll out the rest of the pastry and use to cover the filling. Seal the edges of the pastry with water then pinch them tightly together with fingertips. Trim off any excess pastry.

6 Brush the pastry with the beaten egg and pierce 3-4 holes in the top of the pie to allow the steam to escape. Bake on the hot baking sheet for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold with tomato salad, if liked.

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

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CODEWORD

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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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Please Life when when responding responding to toadverts adverts Please mention mention The Villager and Town Life

Brian R Bulley C.M.B.H.I Horologist

Repairing: Antique & Modern Clocks

All clocks are collected & examined in my workshop and then you are contacted with cost for repair.

On agreement the clock will be repaired, Tested & Delivered.

If you decide not to go ahead with repair the clock will still be delivered free of charge.

• Over 50 years Experience • Tel: Email:

07521 442 050

brian@brianbulley.co.uk

ABOVE ALL Autocentre Unit 1, Sand Road Ind. Est., Great Gransden SG19 3AH

MOT £39.95 with this advert

Tel: 01767 679000

MOT TESTING For class 4 or 7 vehicles Class IV Cars and vans up to 3000kg Class VII Vans over 3000kg up to 3500kg

SERVICING Good Garage Scheme Industry Standard Service Or to manufacturer specification

AIR CONDITIONING – Recharging of system.

DIAGNOSTICS - SNAP ON Diagnostic fault finding centre.

EXHAUSTS - Supplied and fitted to all makes of cars and vans.

BATTERIES - Supplied and fitted two and three year guarantee.

BRAKES - Discs Pads Shoes. Cylinders etc supplied and fitted.

CODE READING - Trace & rectify those alarming red dashboard warning lights.

TYRES - All makes inc. Budget Avon, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli.

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

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what’S ON?

IN MAY

17 April-18 May Zoo - Melina Lafirenze Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-4pm St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots Admission free to local residents.

Other visitors Adults £2, Children & OAP £1 An exhibition of striking animal images by an exciting new local artist. Tel: 01480 214163 Email: curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk 29 April-3 May Aviation and Railway Art of Keith Hill 10.30am-3.30pm daily Coffee House, The Racehourse Inn, Catworth Keith’s work is internationally known with his work in many military establishments worldwide including The Pentagon.

Web: www.keithhillstudios.com or www.theracehorsecatworth.com 1 May Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall Annual subscription £6.

Meetings with speakers £1 and £2 for visitors Speaker Jane Buist of Penny Cross Plants talking about Salvias and how to keep them flourishing from year to year.

Refreshments included. Plants on sale.

3 May Être et Avoir - Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm start Corn Exchange, St Ives Tickets £5 Screen St Ives. (2002) Follow a year in the life of a primary school that serves a tiny French village. The school has one class of mixed age (4-11) children, led by the dedicated and much loved M Georges. Web: www.screenstives.org.uk 4 May 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. www.saintscrafters.blogspot.com 4 May Craft Fair 12 noon-4pm Offord Village Hall Free admission There will be stalls, refreshments and a raffle.

6 May Wilden May Day Fayre 1pm onwards Wilden Village Hall, High Street, Wilden The Bedford Pipe Band will be marching down Wilden High Street at 1pm, followed by Maypole dancing and the crowning of the May Queen. Lots of free activities.

Refreshment tent. Plenty of free parking.

7, 14, 21 & 28 May Bridge Club 7.30-9.30pm Roxton Village Hall Cost £3 Every Tuesday. Beginners welcome.

Tel: 01767 448526 Web: www.greatbarfordbowlsclub.org.uk

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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 8 May Happy’s Circus 5pm, performance 6pm Little Paxton School Playing Field Tickets £7 In the Big Top there’ll be clowns, jugglers, trapeze artists, fun and laughter and it’s available for one night only!

School hall open at 5pm so come along early for hot food, licensed bar, raffle, giant sweet tombola, clown cake stall, face painting and lots more.

Tickets from Little Paxton School Office and Little Paxton School Association (LPSA) Facebook page.

10 May Stageworks of Buckden “Musicals in the Aisles” 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Buckden Tickets £10, Concessions £8 including complimentary glass of wine at the interval Come listen and watch this talented group of young students as they perform more songs from the shows. In aid of Buckden’s Living Stones & Church Funds.

Tickets from Costcutter and Que Sera, Buckden.

Tel: Ron Ingamells 01480 811608 for tickets or email: rjingamells@btinternet.com 11 May The Community Festival 2013 All day Pemberton Arms, Harston The Pemberton Arms are organising a day of festivities to keep good old village community spirit alive and raise money as possible for the new playground equipment on the Village Green as well as ongoing community projects.

All profits will be donated. BBQ, real ales, children’s activities as well as a creative line-up of music and entertainment. Well behaved pets welcomed.

11 May Little Paxton Scarecrow Festival 10.30am-4pm Free admission Local crafts, tearoom, beer tent, bouncy castle, zorb balls, charity stalls and much more. Arena with local school choir, majorettes, local dance school African drummers. Megg-aMix Disco. Residents make and display scarecrows in their gardens and they will be judged by Julie Fernandez.

Tel: Jacqui on 01480 219132 Email: jacqueline.clake63@ntlworld.com Website: www.littlepaxtonscarecrows.co.uk 11 May The Music of Manhattan 7.30pm St Margaret’s Church, Hemingford Abbots Tickets £10 available in advance or on the door The Dan Forshaw Quartet presents The Music of Manhattan including favourites from Oklahoma, West Side Story and many more Tel: Jenny Stocker 01480 468802 or Janet Stewart 01480 462060 for tickets 11 May Quiz Evening 7.30pm The Stuart Memorial Hall, Tempsford £5 per person including Ploughman’s supper With Quiz Master Chris Ebeling. Teams of up to 6 people.

Tel: Meryl 01767 640873 for tickets

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

what’S ON? IN MAY

11 & 12 May Art Exhibition 10.30am-4.30pm Hemingford Abbots Village Hall Free admission All works of art both framed and unframed are originals and will be for sale. Cards featuring original work and also handpainted ones will be on sale. Refreshments will be on sale. www.cambridgeshire.net.

15 May AGM and The Whitney Photographic Archive 7.30pm W.I. Headquarters, Walden Road, Huntingdon Non-members welcome - £1 donation at the door appreciated Huntingdonshire Family History Society AGM and a talk on The Whitney Photographic Archive by Alexa Cox. Web: www.huntsfhs.org.uk 17 May “A Bespoke Journey Down Under” by Frank Burns 8pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Free admission An audio-visual presentation of Frank’s 4000km cycle ride in New Zealand and Australia in aid of Children in Syria Appeal. Light refreshments. Everyone welcome.

18 May Specialist Plant Sale 11am-4pm Buckden Towers Admission £2.50. Refreshments. Free parking.

18 May St Neots W.I. Spring Fayre 11.30am-2.30pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, Church Walk, St Neots Stalls include Cakes, Bric-a-Brac, plants, tombola, nearly new, books and jumble. Refreshments available.

18 May Massed Bands Concert 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Brampton Road, Huntingdon Tickets £13.50 Huntingdonshire Concert Band will be joined by the band of The RAF Regiment in a spectacular massed bands concert with over 90 musicians on stage to raise funds for SSAFA Forces Help.

Tel: Box office 07980 316402 or 01480 811027 Email: md@huntingdonshireconcertband.com Web: www.huntingdonshireconcertband.com

19 May Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust 10.30am Meet at the layby immediately west of the entrance to the Rugby Club on Woburn Road (B530), Ampthill. Grid ref TL028 376 Suggested donation Adults £2, Children free A guided walk at Cooper’s Hill Nature Reserve, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Tel: Phil on 01487 822835 for information 21 May Over the Rainbow 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Kimbolton Flower Club. Jo Poulter, will take us “Over The Rainbow”. Visitors welcome - admission £6.

Sales table and plant stall. Designs are raffled.

25 May Shepreth Village Hall Market 10am-12.30pm Free admission Organised by a group of local small enterprises who want to put village shopping back into villages. There will be a wide variety of stalls including Trach Chic, a Village Blacksmith, local, fresh produce and plants, organic essential oils, Posh doggie treats, wicker baskets and apple juice, Indian Snacks, handmade crafts and lots more!

Ample parking at the rear of the hall.

26 May Model Railway Open Day 2-5pm 14 Boardman Close (off Gordon Road), Little Paxton Free admission A chance to see a Gauge 1 model railway in action.

Donations to St James’ Church CHUFT Appeal.

26 May Cambridgeshire Branch of The Western Front Association 2.15pm for 2.30pm start Offord Cluny Village Hall, 158 High St, Offord Cluny Speaker is Howard Williamson - “If only the artefact could talk”. Tel: Mrs Teddy Noyes 01480 890966 26 & 27 May St Ives Antiques Fair 10am-4pm Burgess Hall, Westwood Road, St. Ives Adults £2, Concessions £1.50 Tel: 01480 896866 for further information 30 May Roman Clay Oil Lamps St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots Discover our local Roman pottery finds and make a replica Roman clay lamp.

Tel: 01480 214163 Email: curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk

18 May Coro Stellante - Ladies Voices from Norfolk 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Buckden Tickets £10, Concessions £8 including complimentary glass of wine at the interval An engaging ladies choir formed in 2010. Under their 31 May inspirational music director, Michael Kibblewhite, they Meet a Roman Soldier have given many concerts across East Anglia and recently St Neots Museum, The Old Court, 8 New Street, St Neots returned from a concert tour in Italy where they received Meet a Roman Soldier and make a replica Roman sword rave reviews. In aid of Buckden’s Living Stones & Church and a Roman brooch.

Funds.

Tel: 01480 214163 Email: curators@stneotsmuseum.org.uk Tickets from Costcutter and Que Sera, Buckden.

Tel: Ron Ingamells 01480 811608 for tickets or email: 31 May rjingamells@btinternet.com Bingo for Prizes 7.30pm Tel: Ron Ingamells 01480 811608 for more info or email Refreshments are included in the cost of a bingo card. events@stmarysbuckden.org.uk To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767Raffle.

261 122 27

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 17th May 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 - Ms Forster – Kempston Hardwick and 2nd prize - Mr Giles – St Neots For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com Across 1 Choose (6) 4 Bends (6) 9 Latest style (7) 10 Work out (5) 11 Scour (5) 12 Remove (7) 13 Arguing (11) 18 Changed (7) 20 Used to steer a car (5) 22 Attempted (5) 23 Kindergarten (7) 24 Area, district (6) 25 Head of newspaper (6) Down 1 Least risk (6) 2 Not the winner (5) 3 Type of plant (7) 5 Overturn (5) 6 Rogue (7) 7 Bedding (6) 8 Unconnected (11) 14 Loosening (7) 15 Taken down (7) 16 Haggle (6) 17 Participant (6) 19 Wireless (5) 21 Expel (5)

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Pleasemention mentionThe TheVillager Villagerand andTown TownLife Life when responding adverts Please when responding toto adverts

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

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7 myths

that retailers may tell you

Some traders will tell you anything to make you go away, rather than just give you your money back.

Here are some of the most common things traders will tell you: 1. “Verbal contract? It’s not worth the paper it’s written on”. This is not true. Verbal contracts are legally binding.

2. “No refunds on sale items” This sign is so common in shops. Whether they can do this or not depends on why the goods were on sale. If they were reduced in price because of a fault that was either pointed out to you or that you could have been ‘reasonably’ expected to notice before you bought it, then you are not entitled to a refund. But, if it was just on special offer or in the January sales, you are entitled to get your money back if it turns out to have a fault, to have been inaccurately described, or not fit for the purpose that it was sold for.

3. “We don’t offer refunds - you must accept a credit note” If you buy goods that turn out to be faulty, the law says that the contract you made when you bought those goods has been broken by the seller. You are therefore entitled to cancel the contract (as long as you have acted within a reasonable amount of time) and get a full refund.

4. “We can’t do anything without a receipt”.

There is no legal obligation for shops to even give you a receipt, let alone for you to keep it.

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Shops should accept any proof of purchase, like a bank statement or credit card bill (if you paid by credit or debit card). If you paid in cash and have not kept the receipt, you may have difficulty proving that you bought the item.

5. “It is not my fault if it doesn’t work. Make a complaint to the manufacturer.” It is the person who sold you the goods with whom you have made a contract. They are therefore responsible for dealing with any problems, and not the manufacturer.

6. “It was fine when I sold it to you. You must have broken it!” If something breaks and you inform the trader within six months of purchase it is the trader’s duty to prove that the item had no fault at the time it was sold to you. If you have had the item for over 6 months it is your duty to prove the fault was present at the time of purchase.

7. “If you have a complaint you will have to bring it back to the shop and we’ll discuss it” No matter what the size or weight of the goods it is technically always the seller’s duty to collect faulty items. If it is simply a case of you having changed your mind, you do not have these automatic rights but many traders will come and collect large or unwieldy items from you in the interests of customer service.

For more information and advice visit consumer champion and legal expert Dean Dunham’s website www.youandyourrights.com

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

tradesMan & high access lift/scaffold tower for hire unique all-in-one service Repairs, maintenance & cleaning solutions for your high up & hard to reach places! our experienced tradesman can provide any of the following services with supply of all new & replacement building materials at competitive prices!

• roof and ridge tiles repaired, replaced, leaks mended • Chimneys – repointed, dismantled, capped, repaired, new pots & bird guards • flue liners installed • Leadwork – repaired & replaced • soffitt, fascias and bargeboards – repaired, capped, cleaned, painted or new replacements • High windows & dormers – repaired, cleaned, painted or replaced • guttering – cleared, cleaned, repaired or new replacements

• external painting – right up to eaves • Cladding & featheredge boarding – wood and upvc, repaired, maintained, cleaned or new replacements • roof cleaning – specialist pressure jet washing • Conservatory roofs – cleaned • tree & hedge trimming

Call today for a FREE no obligation quotation on 01223 871117 / 07717 576126 e: info@anglianhighaccess.co.uk web: www.anglianhighaccess.co.uk

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

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