Grantchester feb 14

VILLAGER The

Issue 12 - February 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Knowing

when to go to court

Banish

those winter blues

Win

£25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

Bourn, Comberton, Grantchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and all surrounding villages every month

ur Yo EE y FRcop

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Contents

VILLAGER The

Issue 12 - February 2014

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Knowing

when to go to court

Banish

those winter blues

Win

£25 in our Prize Crossword

Bringing Local Business to Local People

Bourn, Comberton, Grantchester, Trumpington, Toft, Hardwick and all surrounding villages every month

r

u E Ey FRcop

Yo

Valentine’s All Year Round......................................18 Kia Ray EV..............................................................20 Banish Those Winter Blues.....................................22 Puzzle Page............................................................24 What’s On...............................................................26 Prize Crossword......................................................28

Are you ready for romance

16

Knowing When To Go To Court..................................4 How to Choose a Puppy............................................6

The Game of Golf....................................................30

Take to the Slopes

8

Take to the Slopes....................................................8 1st Comberton Scout Group Needs You!.................10 The Cinnamon Trust................................................12 Valentine’s Day Proposals.......................................15 Are You Ready for Romance....................................16 7,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Barrington, Barton, Bourn, Caldecote, Caxton, Comberton, Grantchester, Hardwick, Harston, Haslingfield, Papworth and Toft (We also have over 100 distribution points, including pubs, garages, most shops, post offices and Bar Hill Tesco)

Editorial - Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Susan Brookes-Morris, Alex Albrighton, Fiona McLeman, Kate McLelland, Sarah Davey, James Baggott, Alison Runman and Adrienne Engleman Advertising Sales - Justine Miller- 07905 063211 justine@villagermag.com Photography - Paul Grecaud 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

Knowing when to go to court!

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

Thankfully most consumer disputes can be settled through effective and firm dialogue. If not, there are programmes such as mine that offer additional assistance for people who are finding it difficult to resolve their consumer complaint.

However, some cases just cannot be resolved, no matter how hard one or both parties try. It is for these cases that the small claims court can be very helpful.

This month, I will outline how to use the small claims court system to obtain the best results.

Firstly, DO NOT RUSH TO COURT. In my experience, judges often look unfavourably at customers who are seen to take a company to court too quickly. It makes the consumer look unreasonable which never bodes well. Therefore always try as hard as you can to resolve the complaint between yourselves first. Consider the small claims court your last resort and it is essential that you have kept a record of your conversations and correspondence.

When you reach the conclusion that (within 6 years of the dispute and for amounts up to £10,000) the company or tradesman is not prepared to resolve the problem, you must write a letter of intention. Make it clear in the letter that you have tried hard to offer them opportunities to resolve the problem and that you would like to offer them one final opportunity. Allow them one month from receipt of the letter to respond, and make it clear that if you do not hear from them, you will lodge papers with the small claims court. Send the letter recorded delivery and ensure they have received it and signed for it.

If they still show no interest in resolving the dispute, then you have an important decision to make. Will you go through with your threat of court action or not? If you decide on the former, you must go into it with your eyes open. You can always lose as well as win, however it may not cost you as much as you may think. The fee is dependent on how much you are suing for, but this will be outlined when you proceed with the action.

If you are successful, the defendant will have to pay your costs as well as the amount you are claiming for.

It is also worth noting that you do not need a lawyer to take someone to the small claims court. It’s relatively straight forward, and as long as you’ve been reasonable and sensible in your dealings with the company or tradesman, you stand a good chance of getting a favourable judgement.

In many cases, mediation is offered as a way of agreeing a course of action. The result of this is not legally binding, and most often I would advise you to proceed with this where offered. It doesn’t prevent you progressing a case to a judge if unsuccessful. However, turning it down can made you look unreasonable.

If things go your way, the judge will award in your favour and will request that the defendant pays you a sum of money (either the whole of the amount you’re seeking, or a proportion of it). They will be given instructions as to how to pay it, and if they fail to do so, you can instruct county court bailiffs to recover the money. You can also escalate the case to the high court for a further fee and instruct the high court enforcement officers to chase your money.

Taking a company to court can be a daunting prospect, and I would always suggest obtaining advice from your local citizens advice bureau who will give you tailor-made advice on your specific case.

Good luck!

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

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5

Pets

How to Choose a Puppy

By Susan Brookes-Morris

Let’s face it, puppies are little bundles of gorgeousness and when choosing one it’s easy to get carried away, but don’t. It is important to think very carefully about whether that puppy (or indeed any puppy) is a good choice. But let’s assume for now that you’ve decided you really do have room in your life for a dog.

The first step is to research which breed or type of mongrel suits your circumstances, and also the dog’s size and nature.

Have you got room for a puppy that will grow into a large dog? How much time do you have to exercise a dog? Do you have children, or any other pets that it must be compatible with? In addition to the purchase cost, what ongoing costs must you consider e.g. food and vet bills; a large dog will eat much more than a small one, and some breeds are prone to medical problems which may be expensive to treat. Consider the dogs coat

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if shedding hair might be an issue. Would a dog or a bitch be a better choice? Male dogs can be more dominant and headstrong; with females, you will need to consider how you will cope when she comes into season.

Terriers are lively dogs that need lots of exercise for their size and can be tricky to train, but they are generally good with children. Toy dogs seem particularly prone to becoming snappy if they are anxious, which they may be around boisterous children. Hounds need lots of exercise, and breeds that have a working history need plenty of mental stimulation so that they don’t get in to mischief.

Border Collies for instance, can become stressed if they are not active and given lots of attention. Gun dogs are easy to train and settle well into most houses.

If you choose a pedigree dog, you will know exactly how large your pup will grow and what it will look like. You should buy from an experienced breeder who can give you lots of information and allow you to meet the parents. As I mentioned earlier, some breeds have potential ‘inherited diseases’ or known health issues in later life, so ask about this if you want to avoid hefty vet bills. Crossbreeds can be cheaper to buy; they can even be free, but if you can’t see both parents you may get a surprise when it grows much larger than you expected. There are currently some very fashionable cross breeds such as the Labradoodle - a Labrador / poodle cross, or a Cockerpoo – a cocker spaniel / poodle cross. These can combine the best features of each breed.

Resist buying a puppy that is left on its own and appears withdrawn, as it may have or develop personality issues. You should choose a lively, alert puppy in good health.

To give your puppy a good start in its new home, try not to have too many people around when it arrives. Be relaxed and allow your puppy to sniff around. Offer it food and water although you may find it refuses for a while. Try to establish a routine.

Once settled in, you can look forward to your puppy being a loving companion for many years.

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7

Travel

Take to the slopes

Join the Olympians and try a winter sport holiday From 7- 23 February, we will be gripped with Olympic fever once again as the 2014 Winter Olympics take place in Sochi, Russia. Thousands of competitors will don their thermals to take part in 15 different winter sports.

If you’ve ever fancied having a go yourself, the variety of resorts and activities now available means that there’s never been a better time to start.

Skiing has been a favourite winter sport for many years, but snowboarding is rapidly gaining in popularity. Which is best for the beginner?

It’s easier to get started with skiing, but it will take you longer to get to a high standard. With snowboarding, you need a lot of practice to stay balanced and link your turns together, but once you’ve mastered that, you’re away.

Planning your holiday requires careful research.

Depending on how far you want to travel, it is possible to ski all year round. The season in Europe and North America runs from December to March/April, depending on the altitude of the resort. If you want to ski during the summer, you should head for the highest Alpine or American peaks, or Southern Hemisphere locations like Argentina, Chile, Australia or New Zealand.

Look at a range of resorts and compare their facilities. You’ll need to consider the ability level of everyone in your party and make sure that there are ski runs to match. This is

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particularly important if you are travelling with children. Some resorts provide a ski-school for children as young as two, otherwise you may want to investigate childcare options. If you’ve never skied before, you will need to organise lessons, which can be taken either in a group or individually.

Don’t forget to check out the other activities on offer – both on and off the slopes. For example, you could try night skiing, bobsleigh, ice climbing, dog sledding or snowmobiling. And of course there’s the après ski – make sure there are plenty of restaurants and bars if this is an important part of your holiday.

Your choice of accommodation can have a big effect on the price of your holiday. Options include luxurious hotels, B&Bs, chalets, apartments, and low-budget hostels.

Another cost to consider is your clothing and equipment. You will need a base-layer, mid-layer, jacket, gloves, goggles and helmet. Unless you are a frequent skier, it makes sense to hire your boots and skis/board. That way you don’t need to worry about transporting, damaging or losing expensive kit.

And finally, remember that if you’re desperate to ski and funds are tight, there are several indoor snow centres and dry ski slopes around the UK. So everyone can share the Olympic spirit!

By Alex Albrighton

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NEW MOBILITY CENTRE Now Open in Huntingdon

at Unit 5A, Cirrus Court, Glebe Road, off St Peters Road, PE29 7DL We are near Huntingdon TESCO supermarket

• Brand new showroom and mobility assessment centre • Huge range of mobility aids to try before you buy • Free home surveys, demonstrations and delivery • Free parking outside our showroom • Competitive prices with high quality products & service • Expert advice on mobility, lifting, moving and handling products • Local company you can trust • Full manufacturer’s warranty on all products • Occupational therapy assessments available with appointments • Servicing and repairs • Please visit us and our friendly staff will provide you with professional caring advice.

www.angliahealthcaremobility.co.uk Email : sales@angliahealthcare.co.uk Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm & Saturday 10am-4pm

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• Scooters From £595 • Wheelchairs from £100 • Rise and recline chairs from £550 • Reclining beds from £695 • Rollators from £70 • Stairlifts from £1,395 We also supply a huge range of other mobility products including: • Daily Living aids • Kitchen Aids • Toileting Aids • Wheelchair Customisations • Powered wheelchairs • Bathlifts • Ramps • Footwear (Cosyfeet) • Wheelchair lifts • Hoists • Steplifts • Stairlifts

Tel 08450 18 11 18 9

Local News

1st Comberton Scout Group Needs You!

Hidato Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.

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1 30

13 22

5

23

16

34 To find out more please contact Ian Douglas, Group Scout Leader Tel: 01954 780394 or Mob: 07710 803708

10

36

40 38

6 8

43 42

45 49

©puzzlepress.co.uk

Scouting is the UK’s biggest mixed youth organisation. They change lives by offering 6 to 25 year olds fun and challenging activities, unique experiences, everyday adventure and the chance to help others so that we make a positive impact in communities.

There’s something for every young person. It’s a great way to have fun, make friends, get outdoors, express your creativity and experience the wider world.

This everyday adventure is possible thanks to our adult volunteers, who support Scouts in a wide range of roles from working directly with young people, to helping manage a Group, to being a charity Trustee.

We help volunteers get the most out of their experiences at Scouts by providing opportunities for adventure, training, fun and friendship.

Our award-winning training scheme for volunteers means that adults get as much from Scouts as young people. Our approach focuses on what you want to get out of volunteering with Scouts, while respecting how much time you can offer.

Over 90% of Scout volunteers say that their skills and experiences have been useful in their work or personal life.

We need more leaders/ regular helpers to run the Beaver and Cub sections within Comberton if they are to continue operating!

Beavers are boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 8 years old and meet on Thursday evenings term time between 5.30 and 6.30pm Cubs are boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 10 ½ years old and meet on Friday evenings term time between 6.00 and 7.10pm We would welcome volunteers of any age and experience who could give a bit of their time to help with the running of a section within our scout group.

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11

Local News

The Cinnamon Trust

Working with the elderly and terminally ill and their pets The Cinnamon Trust operates throughout the whole of the UK and we do operate in your area.

We are the only specialist national charity that works with the elderly and terminally ill people and their pets to protect the treasured relationship between them and try to keep them together for as long as possible. We do this by tasking a network of approximately 15,000 volunteers nationwide to assist with the practical day to day care of pets, for example by walking dogs, helping with transport, feeding, grooming, medication etc. The trust also provides short term foster care for pets who’s owners face a spell in hospital, and offers peace of mind by giving people the opportunity to make prior arrangements for the care of beloved companions should they outlive their owners. There is also advice available for people going into residential care, and the trust produces a guide to Pet Friendly Care Homes.

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We offer a lifeline that enables pet owners to continue to benefit from the special relationship they enjoy with their beloved companions, the pets themselves receive the care and attention that they need.

Anyone wishing to talk to the trust about how we could support them should contact our headquarters in Hayle, Cornwall, by calling 01736 757900.

Anyone wishing to volunteer will need to register with the Trust and they can do this either by going to the Cinnamon Trust Website www.cinnamon. org.uk and downloading the volunteer registration form, or by phoning headquarters on 01736 758705 or emailing volunteer@cinnamon.org.uk There is a map on the website highlighting areas where we are currently running appeals.

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13

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Family Law

Valentine’s Day Proposals A few facts about engagements

An engagement is a promise to marry. The length of the engagement can be long or short, depending on the wishes of the couple. The term fiancé or fiancée is usually applied to the intended bride and groom. The term derives from the French for ‘betrothed’.

Many couples mark their engagement with the gifting of an engagement ring. Traditionally, the ring has been gifted from groom to be from bride to be. However, it’s now fashionable for male fiancés to also wear an engagement ring in recognition of their forthcoming nuptials, and their commitment to their future spouse. The ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger of the left hand. This developed from the Roman “annulus pronubis” when the man gave a ring to the woman at the betrothal ceremony. Tradition in some countries suggests that the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand because the vein on that finger is thought to connect directly to the heart, a symbol of love.

What happens to the ring if the engagement is broken? In law, the gift of the ring is deemed to be an absolute gift from one party to the other.

If the engagement ends, the recipient is entitled to keep the ring. However, if it can be established that the gifting of the ring was only conditional on the marriage taking place, then the ring must be returned. Many would assume that the gifting of an engagement ring would always be viewed on the basis that the marriage would take place as that was the purpose of the engagement.

However, ultimately, it will be a question of whether the fiancé wishes to return the ring, and whether the donor wishes it to be returned. On either scenario, sadly the ring will no longer represent the betrothal of love that it was intended for.

These days, a second home can be found through online sites such as preloved, EBay and neverlikeditanyway. com.

The notion that the man should spend a fraction of his annual income on purchasing the engagement ring came from a well-known jeweller’s marketing concept which aimed to increase the sale of diamonds. The current expectation is that an intended spouse should spend at least one month’s salary on the ring.

Pre wedding plans may now also concern discussions about whether to have a prenuptial agreement or a Prenup as they are more commonly known. A Prenup is now common place for many couples, particularly for those entering second marriages, or where one of the couple has family wealth. Although not yet enshrined in legal statute, the courts have upheld such agreements provided the right conditions were in place when the agreement was entered into.

For advice about all family law matters, contact Fiona McLeman Family Law for an initial no cost consultation.

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15

Time of Year

? e c n a m o r

Are you really ready for It’s that time of the year when we just can’t avoid the subject of romance, from the heart shaped decorations fluttering in shop windows to those indulgent dinner-for-two recipes that appear in your local paper. Even search engines are in on the act: the minute you log on to your computer on 14th February, you know that a love-themed Google Doodle will pop up in your browser window.

This annual overdose of hearts and flowers can provoke a range of different reactions, depending on your age, situation or mindset.

If you’re a teenager expecting your first Valentine card, or a loved-up newlywed couple, the 14th February can be a time of high excitement. Alternatively if you’re a 16

singleton marooned at home with a ready meal for one, the day can turn out to be a thoroughly depressing experience.

For people who fall between those two extremes – generally that means couples in long-term relationships – there may be mixed feelings about St. Valentine’s Day. Depending on whether you are a ‘glass half full’ or a ‘glass half empty’ kind of person, you will either see the 14th February as the perfect opportunity to show your other half how much they mean to you, or as an occasion that merely serves to highlight the lack of romance in your relationship for the remaining 364 days of the year.

Of course, there are a lucky few who don’t

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need St Valentine’s Day to kick-start their romantic feelings: take David and Lauren Blair, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for renewing their wedding vows over 100 times, or Ravi Viswanathan, who paid over £25,000 at auction for a (still drinkable) 170 year old bottle of champagne to celebrate his 10th wedding anniversary. If you must, even take American farmer Dick Kleis, who flew his wife over farmland in a plane to show her a loving birthday message he’d written out – you guessed it – in cow dung.

We all love a love story. If those tales of romantic dedication aren’t enough, you can go online to find thousands of videos of people getting married in quirky but endearing ways: wing-walking on a biplane, abseiling down a building or clad in wetsuits, under water.

It would seem that we can’t get enough of other people’s romantic experiences: one particular wedding dance video has enjoyed over 83,000,000 hits (which might suggest it’s not just the couple’s immediate family who are watching).

With Mills and Boon romantic novels published in 26 different languages and sold in 109 countries world-wide, we don’t need a social anthropologist to tell us that a desire for romance is hard-wired into the human psyche.

However, while it may be great to fantasise about other people’s love-inspired exploits, we are sometimes a little less comfortable about experiencing them ourselves, in real life.

When football fan James Miller stripped down to his underwear and did a Cupid-style streak across the pitch, firing roses from a bow and arrow in tribute to his girlfriend, it didn’t have the effect he anticipated: she was so embarrassed that she dumped him.

We can all sympathise with James’ plight: one person’s idea of romance is not always the same as another’s. When a

friend of mine discovered that her husband had booked a Mexican Mariachi band to play outside their hotel window on holiday, she hid in the toilet until the song had ended.

Last year on February 14th my partner of fifteen years rang me from work to say he’d booked a table at a new restaurant I’d spotted in town. “It’ll be like a proper date,” he promised.

Although it was exciting to dress up and go out on the spur of the moment, I’m afraid the whole thing ran out of steam pretty quickly: within half an hour we were discussing whether we should hire a plumber to fix a leaky tap in the bathroom.

Our night out may not have been the height of romance, but on reflection it summed up the comfortable place we have reached in our relationship. In fact, if he’d hired a choir to sing “Love Is All Around” and showered me with rose petals I’m pretty sure I would have run for the loo, just like my friend in Mexico.

It’s sad that St Valentine’s Day has lost its excitement for many of us, but I still believe it’s worth celebrating. Of course, some people condemn the 14th February for its overt commercialism, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to show that you care. Remember farmer Dick Kleis and make the best of the resources you have to hand … however, Dear Reader, if you want your relationship to last, I would advise you not to take his example too literally.

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By Kate McLelland 17

Time of Year

Valentine’s All Year Round

By Sarah Davey

Valentine’s Day is all about being ‘in love’ isn’t it?

But what does ‘being in love’ really mean? Is it just about the flowers, chocolate or perfume?

To me, being in love is all about appreciating and noticing my partner. In the first throws of a romance it’s easy: you appreciate the way it feels when he takes your hand; the way she laughs or cries at daft films; the way he pokes his tongue out when he concentrates. You notice the little things and find them endearing.

Over time sadly our focus shifts more to the things which irritate us, such as the way we have to ask him to take his muddy shoes off in the house at least three times before he does it, or the way she spends so much money on clothes and beauty products. When we focus on the negatives the positives get lost. Worse, we only appreciate our partner when they produce a big gift, or an extravagant display of affection, mainly because it’s something out of the ordinary so it shakes

us out of our apathy.

Florists, jewellers and gift-card suppliers capitalise on this.

I am not advocating a Valentine’s Day without cards and flowers, (mainly because I like receiving them), but this year make a list of all the little things you love about your husband, wife or partner as well. Then every day tell them one or two small things you really appreciate about them.

Yes it takes effort, but it will help them feel loved every day, not just on Valentine’s Day. The poet Victor Hugo said that ‘The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.’ That surely has to be the best Valentine gift you can give anyone this year.

WOOD GREEN Behind the Animal carer scenes tours experience day Tuesday 18th February 2014 10am – 12pm & 1 – 3pm Godmanchester Centre £5 per person Join us and get hands on making fun pet toys and feed some of our animals tasty treats. Suitable for 5 year olds and over and booking essential.

– unique present for 7 – 12 year olds!

Thursday 20th February 2014, 10am – 3pm Godmanchester Centre £75 per child + free adult space, £5 shop voucher and children’s lunch voucher Get Hands On with essential animal carer duties including cleaning out, health checking, feeding, making enrichment toys, getting creative in the dog kitchen and having a go at dog training! Receive a goody bag and certificate. Maximum group size of 4 and booking essential.

As of January 20th, in order to reduce the stress for our dogs we have restricted the public viewing of these dogs at our Godmanchester Centre to those people who are genuinely looking to rehome a canine companion. In addition, Wood Green will be closing all animal sections at all centres to the public on Mondays, excluding Bank Holidays, so that teams can spend additional time with the animals and undertake any necessary training. If you would like further information please see our website.

Call: 0844 248 8181 Visit: www.woodgreen.org.uk Or Email: handson@woodgreen.org.uk

King’s Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NH

Animal rehoming Charity Shop Restaurant Pet & Gift Shop Children’s play area 10.00am – 4.00pm

The Animals Charity Registered Charity No. 298348.

mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 18 WGAS Villager 131w x 93h Grantchester 1.14.indd Please 1 15/1/14 20:28:55

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.

Inspection welcome. Boarding from ÂŁ6.60/day.

Rabbits/guinea pigs also boarded.

64 Meadow Road, Great Gransden

Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year.

The cattery for caring owners.

Comfort and security for your pet.

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19

Motoring

First drive: Kia Ray EV

By James Baggott

Kia is entering the electric vehicle market in 2014 with an EV version of its Soul mini SUV. We headed to South Korea to try that car’s forerunner, the Ray EV, which is leading the charge for the brand’s electric future. We took it for a spin around the heaving city to see what we could learn about the Soul that will use an enhanced version of its tech.

What is it? Let’s clear this up from the start – the Ray is not, and will never be, available in the UK. But this car is pioneering the technology that will appear in the Soul EV in the UK in the winter of 2014. The Ray is a micro city car for the Korean market where some 67,000 have been sold. The EV version, though, is only available on a pilot car sharing scheme in Seoul where 180 of the tiny cars are available to 15,000 members for as little as £3 an hour. Kia has been using the scheme to gain data on its EV models that it has used to refine the mass production Soul version.

What’s under the bonnet? What’s more important is what’s under the seats. Hidden in the floor pan is a battery pack that’s coupled to an electric motor situated in the more traditional location under the bonnet. We won’t concentrate too much on what the Ray features, as much of this has been enhanced for the Soul. The Soul EV has a range of 125 miles, can be fully charged in five hours or topped up in just 25 minutes with a fast charger. Top speed is 90mph and it will hit 60mph in around 14 seconds.

What’s the spec like? That’s unclear at this point, but what we do know is that when the Soul EV arrives it will be the most expensive model in the

range. That will mean it’s likely to have Kia’s top spec with a clever sat nav system that will point out recharging locations and range, just like our Ray EV test car did. Kia did tell us the Soul will come with heated and cooling front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel. Slightly different bumpers and headlamps, and a charge point in the grille, will mark out the EV model from the rest of the Soul range.

Any rivals? BMW are the latest entrants to this market with the i3, but electric car buyers can also choose from more established offerings from Nissan like the Leaf, or Renault’s Zoe. If you’re looking for something even more outrageous, then you could consider a Renault Twizy.

What’s it like to drive? On clogged streets in South Korea’s capital, we found the brisk, smooth acceleration of the battery powered model a boon.

The silent running makes for a relaxing drive and the added weight from the batteries was hard to spot.

Regenerative braking was also impressive, if a little aggressive at slamming on the anchors at times.

The verdict We’re impressed with Kia’s first entry into the EV market. There’s currently no word on pricing for the Soul or whether buyers will be offered the car complete with batteries to buy outright, like Nissan, or rented the batteries and sold the car, like Renault. What was clear from our test drive, though, is that Kia has EV technology pretty much nailed and it’s ready to go. Fact in the likelihood the manufacturer’s competitive pricing will be brought into the equation, the Soul EV could be the shake up the segment needs.

The knowledge Model: Kia Ray EV Price: N/A (car share scheme only) Engine: 50kw electric motor Power: 68bhp, 167Nm Max speed: 90mph 0-60mph: 15.9s Range: 125 miles Emissions: 0g/km

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Health and Beauty

Banish those Winter Blues

By Alison Runman

Often, you can cope with the start of winter. It may be dark, cold and wet, but the early months are full of celebrations to lift your spirits until the New Year and its ‘fresh start’.

A few weeks later, your resolutions are in tatters. The days are still dark, meaning you drag yourself out of bed and then feel like the day is over by dinner time. You may be just fed up, but you could be suffering from ‘Winter Blues’. So here’s how to survive the winter.

Let There Be Light!

Lack of sunlight can increase melatonin levels (making you sleepy and lethargic) and reduce serotonin levels (affecting mood and appetite). It’s also thought to influence your ‘body clock’ (your circadian rhythm that controls body functions). So spend time outside. When indoors, try to work or relax near a window.

A sunrise clock may help you wake up; they aim to bring your body out of sleep gently, by gradually increasing the light they emit.

Stay Warm If your body is fighting to keep you warm, you’ll feel sluggish and struggle to concentrate.

Keep yourself as warm as possible; wear layers and heat your home adequately. What about spending time somewhere else warm and cosy - a pub or library?

Eat and Drink Healthily Warm, stodgy food and extra tea and coffee seem tempting when we’re chilly and low, but resist – think hot but

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healthy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables of different colours and choose low sugar, low fat alternatives to stodgy puddings.

Healthy soups are a great winter warmer, as are fruit teas, orange juice with cinnamon, honey and lemon, or malted drinks made with skimmed milk or hot water (but beware versions loaded with fat and sugar).

Socialise There’s scientific proof that the company of others, particularly if laughing and hugging is involved, is great for our wellbeing. So invite friends round, go visiting and attend sociable gatherings wherever possible.

Exercise Exercise will warm you up, increase your immunity and alertness and make you feel good too. So bundle yourself up for a walk outdoors on brighter days, and find an indoor activity you enjoy – perhaps an exercise or dance DVD or video game.

Whatever you do, your mind and body will feel better for it.

When you’re not just blue, but SAD Over 2 million people in the UK suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a more severe form of Winter Blues. SAD is at its worst from December to February when days are shortest, and causes either depression, or mood swings between depression and hyper-energy.

Sometimes stress or trauma such as bereavement or a new baby seems to be a trigger, and it’s most prevalent in 18-30 year olds. If you are a sufferer, you can help yourself by: Following the Winter Blues advice above Trying a light box Therapeutic light boxes, available to buy or rent, produce light that’s at least ten times as intense as normal daylight. Rent one first to see if it works for you.

Seeing your GP They may suggest counselling or CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) or in some circumstances, antidepressants or a structured course of light therapy.

For support and information, visit http://www.sada.org.uk/ (The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA)) or http:// www.sad.org.uk/

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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New Decorations Interior and Exterior Painting Wallpapering

Mark Newman

Painting & Decorating m.a.newman@virgin.net

01954212342 07969650344 164 Limes Road, Hardwick Cambridge CB23 7XX To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

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n O s ’ t Wha 1 February Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm St Ives Free Church Local people selling hand-made crafts at very reasonable prices. Held on the first Saturday of each month. Charity tombola and free entry. For more details visit http://www.saintscrafters.blogspot.com 1 February Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Small charge for visitors Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk

by Geoff Hodge on ‘Pruning making it simple’’. Geoff is and Editor and Garden Writer. Plants for sale. All welcome. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 2 February Beacon Antiques Fair 10am-4.30pm The Sharnbrook Hotel, Park Lane, Sharnbrook, MK44 1LX Admission: £2.00 This antiques fair offers a diverse range of quality antiques so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this unique fair is the place to visit. Refreshments including tea, coffee, soft drinks and snacks served throughout the day. Tel: 01480 382432 2, 9, 16 & 23 February Kingfisher Church 10.30am Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday – all welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche. Refreshments served.

Tel: 01480 394321 for further details Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 5 February Little Paxton Gardening Club Mike Day will speaking about “Salads All Year Round”.

Learn how to grow many varieties and eat seasonally.

7 February Philomena - Kimbolton Community Cinema 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Tel: 01480 860297 for more details Web: http://e-voice.uk/themandevillehallkimbolton Tickets: Watson’s, Dixie’s Deli, Bytes Café or on the door if available.

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7 & 8 February 1940’s Music and Dance Weekend!

Friday 7pm-12 midnight Saturday workshops from 10am Saturday evening 7pm Burgess Hall, Westwood Road, St Ives Tickets: Friday evening £11, Saturday evening £17.50 – buy both for £25 5th Annual 1940’s event with The Swing Commanders on Friday night, dance workshops on Saturday and Chris Smith Jnr and the String of Pearls on Saturday night. Unreserved cabaret seating, and a fully licensed bar with food available.

Added attractions include vintage stalls, movie room showing films of the era, re-enactors in a war time home, vintage vehicles (weather permitting). Why not dress in the clothes of that era - allied uniform or in 1930/40’s period clothing, it will add to the atmosphere!

Evening Tickets available from the Box Office or website.

For information on Dance Workshops please email paul@rug-cutters.co.uk.

Tel: Box Office 01480 388500 Web: www.burgesshall.net 8 February Tabletop Sale Sellers 9am, Doors open 10am Buckden Village Hall Tables £5, Free admission Sell your unwanted Christmas gifts, de-clutter or come along to bag a bargain!

Tel: Bookings and further info Rachel 01480 811101 8 & 9 February Historical Fair 9am-5pm Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester Tel: 01480 453390 12 February The Flora and the Lizards of the Canary Islands 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust is pleased to present an illustrated talk on the flora and lizards of the Canary Islands, the Galapagos of the Atlantic. Anyone interested in wildlife is welcome to attend. Tel: Phil 01487 822835 Web: www.wildlifetrust-huntsareagroup.org.uk

16 February A Celebration of Marriage 3pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton The annual service open to any couples thinking about marriage, who want to celebrate marriage or anybody who thinks marriage is a good thing.

Wedding music, hymns and readings followed by refreshments.

18 February Kimbolton Flower Club 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Admission £6, including light refreshments Demonstration entitled “All About Flowers” by Elizabeth Ollenbittle. Arrangements will be raffled.

Accessories for sale. Visitors most welcome.

19 February Huntingdonshire Family History Society 7.30-9pm Women’s Institute Centre, Waldon Road, Huntingdon Non-members welcome - £1 donation appreciated at the door. The Swing Riots by Rita Butler.

Web: www.huntsfhs.org.uk 22 February Grand Auction Sale Viewing 9.45-11.00am, Auction begins promptly at 11am Buckden Millennium Hall Free admission In aid of St. Mary’s Fundraisers. Refreshments.

22 February Shepreth Village Hall Market.

10am-12.30pm Our market is now in its 2nd year and we would like to thank everybody who has supported it. Tim and Lisa’s Basket and Apple juice gazebo will be outside the hall welcoming you in along with local, fresh produce from around the area inside and a lot of new stalls including “The Dog Coat Lady” and “Biscuit Bunny” fabulous biscuit creations for all occasions. Refreshments by Shepreth W.I. Please call in to sample the wares and purchase some excellent buys! Everyone welcome, including dogs! Tel. Jane 07554207580 Web.www.stallsinthevillagehall.co.uk 22 & 23 February St. Ives Antiques Fair 10am-4pm Burgess Hall, Westwood Road, St. Ives, PE27 4WU Adults: £2, Concessions: £1.50 A great day out at this well-established Antiques Fair with more than 40 dealers attending, offering treasures of yesteryear at affordable prices to suit all pockets.

Tel: Linda Parkhouse 01480 896866 for further details Email: parkhousepr@aol.com

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26 February Musical Memories 11am-12.30pm Peppercorns Academy, Little End Road, Eaton Socon, St Neots, PE19 8JH Free event It is recognised that singing, listening to music, even playing an instrument, are pleasures that remain for people with dementia long after everything else has gone. This accounts for the spread, and growing popularity of groups all over the country that provide an opportunity for those with memory problems and their carers, to meet at regular intervals to sing together. A group of volunteers in St. Neots that already hold a monthly drop in at the Coffee Pot Club and a Pub Lunch, with the support of local Rotarians, are starting a monthly gathering to sing and socialise for anyone with memory problems and their carers.

The group will meet under the musical direction of Caroline Muzolf of Peppercorns Music Academy. The group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month. All those with memory problems and their carers, are very welcome to come along and join in.

Tel: Wendy 01480 219925 or Nell 01480 472495 for more details 27 February 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 Sara Oldfield talking about Botanical Garden Travels. Competition is Snowdrops.

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. Please see website for full details.

Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 Web: www.wybostonvillagehall.com 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

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Prize

The Villager Prize Crossword

£25

Across 1 European country (7) 5 Scour (5) 8 Inflamed (7) 9 Precise (5) 10 Strict (5) 11 Operating room (7) 12 Painter (6) 14 Lethal (6) 17 Non professional (7) 19 Likeness (5) 22 Edgy, anxious (5) 23 Revised (7) 24 Father (5) 25 Harnessed to ride (7)

and send to the address below before

15th February 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name:

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Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page

Down 1 Types of transport (5) 2 Not tight (5) 3 E.g. Crete, Rhodes (7) 4 Tiny (6) 5 Stage set (5) 6 Oven cooked (7) 7 Torch power cell (7) 12 Made suitable (7) 13 Coached (7) 15 Once lived (7) 16 Destroys (6) 18 Including all (5) 20 Fourth month (5) 21 Finished (5)

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Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mrs J M Matheson from Lower Stondon, Henlow For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com 28

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Cambridge Meridian Golf

The Game Of Golf

By Adrienne Engleman

Dear Readers Golf is a sport in which players use many types of clubs to strike a ball into a series of holes (which even to me sounds like a rather daft game!). The sport is generally played on a course consisting of either 9 or 18 holes. However, I personally believe that more 6-hole courses should exist and of an overall shorter length so as to provide a quick, fun and easier alternative in order to enable all to play and more often (but I’m just a golf pro so what do I know!). Anyway, each hole commences with a mown area of grass known as the ‘teeing ground’ and finishes with a more closely mown area known as the ‘putting green’ containing the actual hole. There are other terrains in between, such as the mown ‘fairway’, ‘rough’ (longer grass) and ‘hazards’ (e.g. sand bunkers, lakes, etc), but each hole is unique.

Golf is generally played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known as ‘Stroke Play’, and is the most commonly used format at virtually all levels of play.

The word ‘Golf’ is considered by some as an (outdated) acronym meaning: Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden!

The game’s ancient origins are unclear and much debated, however, the modern game originated in Scotland where the first written record of golf is James II’s banning of it in 1457 as an unwelcome distraction to learning archery!

Golf is documented as being played on Musselburgh Links (East Lothian) in Scotland as early as 2 March 1672, which is certified as the oldest golf course in the world by Guinness World Records. However, the Old Course at St Andrews (a links course dating to before 1574) is considered to be a site of pilgrimage to many golfers.

The oldest surviving rules of golf were compiled in March 1744 for the Company of Gentlemen Golfers, later renamed The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which was played at Leith, Scotland. In 1891, Muirfield in East Lothian

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became home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and all of last year came under scrutiny by the world’s press and was criticised by many for holding The Open Championship (the world’s oldest golf tournament in existence, and golf’s first major championship, which was first played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club, in Ayrshire, Scotland) because of its socalled ‘No Women’ policy!

Fortunately (and I am extremely pleased and proud to be able to say this) I am the Professional at Cambridge Meridian Golf Club (Toft), which unlike some antiquated clubs, is a modern, friendly and forward thinking golf facility where men, women and children are most welcome!

Adrienne

Adrienne is currently offering free introductory lessons for all readers and can be contacted on Tel: 07979 500199 or Email: adrienne@cambridgegolfacademy.co.uk

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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

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