Henlow Villager December 2012 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 49 - December 2012

and Town

Life

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Bringing Local Business to Local People in

Langford, Henlow, Stanford, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Radwell, Shillington, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, Holwell, Pirton, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey, Hitchin and Letchworth

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VILLAGER The

In this Issue

Issue 49 - December 2012

and Town

Life

£25

Prize Crossword See Inside

The History Of

Christmas Traditions

Bringing Local Business to Local People in Langford, Henlow, Stanford, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Radwell, Shillington, Upper and Lower Stondon, Gravenhurst, Holwell, Pirton, Baldock, Stotfold, Arlesey, Hitchin and Letchworth

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Editorial

Leon F. Jones, Katharine Sorell, Geoff Wharton, Claudia Leaf, Sarah Fryer, Sarah Davey, James Baggott, Solange Hando, Helen Taylor and Pippa Greenwood

Advertising Sales Nigel Frost nigel@villagermag.com

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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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Top Tips for Christmas Decorations............................... 10 A Very Vintage Christmas................................................ 13 Colourful Cuba................................................................. 14 Inventions - Christmas Tree Lights................................. 16 Your Perfect Christmas................................................... 19 Support for Carers...........................................................20 Good Work in Bedfordshire’s Countryside....................24 Party Perfect Make Up....................................................26 EAAA................................................................................29 Winter Planters................................................................34 Rural Ramblings..............................................................37 Animal Stories................................................................ 38 Children’s Page............................................................... 40 Ford B-Max......................................................................42 Seasonal Delights........................................................... 44 Puzzle Page.................................................................... 48 Hygiene in the Home....................................................... 51 Gadget Gifts.....................................................................53 Roofine Relevations........................................................57 What’s On....................................................................... 58

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History of Christmas Traditions…

BY Sarah Fryer

‘Tis the season to be jolly’, Christmas comes but once a year and with it brings excitement and magical wonderment. December the 25th brings families together, offering a day when everyone can eat, drink and be merry, but how did Christmas come about and where did our favorite Xmas traditions come from. Well as we know, Christmas Eve is just as important as Christmas Day and a very exciting time for children. Christmas Eve (December 24th) marks the beginning of the period known as Christmas Tide. Christmas traditionally started at sunset on December the 24th and this has been considered, over time, to be Christmas Evening or more commonly known, Christmas Eve. So why is December the 24th so enchanting for children all over the world? Well this is of course the time stockings are hung on the mantelpiece or at the end of their beds hoping Santa Claus will stop by during the night and fill them with wonderful gifts. Children have been following such traditions since as early as the 1870’s when it is said Santa once dropped some gold coins when sliding down the chimney. The stockings were hung to catch the coins, as otherwise they would of been

lost if they had fallen through the ash grate. We know Santa is a mystical figure generally depicted as a portly and joyous white-bearded man whom always wears a red coat with white collar and cuffs, black boots and a black belt. According to tradition, Santa Claus lives at the North Pole with a large number of elves who frantically help him prepare the gifts in the workshop ready for Christmas Eve delivery. He delivers his presents via his eight flying reindeer that pull his sleigh across the night sky. A glorious vision for everyone to store deep within their imagination. Since the 20th century, in an idea popularised by the 1934 song “Santa Claus is coming to town”, Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorising them according to their behavior (“naughty” or “nice”) and to deliver presents, to all of the wellbehaved children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty ones, on the single night of Christmas Eve. Many may well know Santa as Saint Nicholas and this dates back to as long ago as fourth century AD, when a very rich bishop called Nicholas was reputed as always giving to the needy and poor and donating secret gifts to the people that needed them most. It was due to his kindness that he was made a Saint; St. Nicholas is not only the saint of children but also of sailors! One story tells of him helping some sailors that were caught in a dreadful storm off the coast of Turkey. The storm was raging around them and all the men were terrified that their ship would sink beneath the giant waves. They prayed to St. Nicholas to help them. Suddenly, he was standing on the deck before them. He ordered the sea to be calm, the storm died away, and they were able to sail their ship safely to port. So you see with his generosity and apparent magical presence, the connection was made. So onto Christmas Day, (December 25th) the day excitable children run amok around their homes, Mums and Dads have their stress levels pushed to the limit trying to prepare a day full of festive fun and families travel far and wide to celebrate with their loved ones. Why do we celebrate? is it purely greed because

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we enjoy giving and receiving gifts?. December the 25th is the traditional anniversary of the birth of Christ, but most people are unsure about the true date for Christ’s birth. Many hypotheses circulate. The decision to celebrate Christmas on December the 25th was made sometime during the fourth century by church bishops in Rome. They had a specific reason for doing so. Having turned long ago from worshiping, the one true God and creator of all things, many early cultures in the Roman Empire had fallen into sun worship. Recognising their dependence on the sun’s yearly course in the heavens, they held feasts around the winter solstice in December when the days are shortest. As part of their festivals, they built bonfires to give the sun god strength and bring him back to life again. When it became apparent that the days were growing longer, there would be great rejoicing. The church leaders in Rome decided to celebrate Christ’s birth during the winter solstice in an attempt to Christianise these popular pagan celebrations. For the most part their efforts failed to make the people conform, and the heathen festivities continued. Today we find ourselves left with a bizarre marriage of pagan and Christian elements that symbolise our modern celebration of Christmas. A special Christmas family meal is traditionally an important part of the celebration, and the food that is served varies greatly from country to country. Some regions, such as Sicily, have special meals starting Christmas Eve, when 12 kinds of fish are served. In England and countries influenced by its traditions though, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey or goose, gravy, potatoes and vegetables. Vegetables inevitably include Brussel Sprouts, an accompaniment disliked by many! Sauces such as Bread and cranberry are

almost always served with dinner. Desert on Christmas Day is traditionally hot Christmas pudding and mince pies or Christmas cake and also trifle are still a firm favorite. Many families set light to their Christmas puddings to burn the alcohol; this is generally done at the table in front of guests as a showpiece. Another of our many Christmas traditions is to set a cracker at our table placements, a practice dating back centuries Thomas J Smith invented crackers in 1847; he created the crackers as a development of his bon-bon sweets, which he sold in a twist of paper (the origins of the traditional sweet-wrapper). As sales of bon-bons slumped, Smith began to come up with new promotional ideas. His first tactic was to insert mottos into the wrappers of the sweets, but this had only limited success. Smith added the “crackle” element when he heard the crackle of a log he had just put on a fire. The size of the paper wrapper had to be increased to incorporate the banger mechanism, and the sweet itself was eventually dropped, to be replaced by a small gift In the early days, the crackers were called Bon Bons - meaning lollies or candies in French - and as a consequence were still quite small in size with a fairly plain wrapping. Later he added a colored outer wrapper and a friction strip – consisting of two overlapping strips of cardboard coated with a small amount of explosive powder - that is inside all ordinary crackers - and joined together, which became known as a “snap” - because when the cracker is pulled apart the strips rub across each other setting off a chemical reaction that produces an audible bang. The snap was also known as “Silver Fulminant” - a discovery in 1802 by Dottore Luigi Valentino Brugnatelli (1761-1818) Professor of chemistry at Pavia University, Italy. At the same time - as a confectioner - he would have been familiar with the popular Italian custom of having a surprise “trinket” inside chocolate Easter eggs and also with the ancient Chinese custom of inserting a fortune prediction “motto” inside the fortune cookies. By putting all these ideas together on his return from the Paris family holiday, the Christmas Cracker was born complete with a surprise novelty gift, a trinket, a tissue paper hat, a snap to make a bang when pulled apart and a piece of paper with a joke or motto - appropriate to express a principle or ideal suited to the occasion. Some people place crackers in their Christmas tree as a decoration and never pull them from

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year to year, but why do we have Christmas Trees and why do we decorate them? The Christmas tree is considered by some as a Christinisation of pagan tradition and ritual, surrounding the Winter Solstice, which included the use of evergreen boughs, and an adaptation of pagan tree worship according to eighthcentury biographer Eddi Stephanus. Saint Boniface (634–709), who was a missionary in Germany, took an axe to an oak tree dedicated to Thor and pointed out a fir tree, which he stated, was a more fitting object of reverence because it pointed to heaven and it had a triangular shape, which he said was symbolic of the Trinity. In English language, the phrase “Christmas tree” is first recorded in 1835 and represents an importation from the German language. The modern Christmas tree tradition is believed to have begun in Germany in the 18th century though many argue that Martin Luther began the tradition in the 16th century. Germany introduced the custom to Britain and by 1841 the Christmas tree had become even more widespread throughout the UK. By the 1870s, people in the United States had adopted the custom of putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it with lights and ornaments. People in Britain today decorate their Christmas tree’s with twinkly lights, candy canes, angels and garlands. Many opt for a colour theme, and Green and Red prove popular every year. It is said that green represents the continuance of life through the winter, whilst red symbolises the blood from Jesus Christ at the crucifix. To accompany our festive decorations we also spend millions each year sending friends and family messages of goodwill. Christmas cards are purchased in considerable quantities, and feature artwork, commercially designed and relevant to the season. The content of the design might relate directly to the Christmas narrative with depictions of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christian symbols such as the Star of Bethlehem, or a white dove which can represent both the Holy Spirit and Peace on Earth. Other Christmas cards are more secular and can depict Christmas traditions or mythical figures such as Santa Claus or objects directly associated with Christmas such as candles, holly and baubles. The first commercial Christmas card was produced by Sir Henry Cole in London in 1834 and since then, this tradition has grown to be a financial winner with consumers buying into it year after year in Britain.

We have looked at various traditions covering Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but what about Boxing Day? Why is December the 26th also linked to Christmas? Well like Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a public bank holiday, a non-working day for every Man, Women and Child in Britain. When Boxing Day falls on a Weekend, the following Monday is classed as the Public Holiday instead. So why is December the 26th called Boxing Day, why is it not referred to as just another bank holiday? Well traditionally Boxing Day was the day to open “The Box” This was a box made of wood or sometimes clay and contained donated gifts for the poor. These boxes would be left in Churches on Christmas Day for worshippers to come along and place a gift inside for the poor of every parish. The boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, hence the name, Boxing Day. Like Christmas Day, we tend to once again spend December the 26th with loved ones whereby we eat, drink and consume naughty treats. Lounging around and watching TV is a firm favorite for this day, especially when the previous two are normally very full on. Us Britain’s love our traditions, and I for one am pleased, Christmas would not be the same without them, and I don’t think it matters whether you are young or old, Christmas is still a magical and happy time of the year when one should celebrate with family and friends and revel in all the festive merriment.

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Top tips for

xmas decorations Have your festive decorations lost their sparkle? Are they gaudy rather than gorgeous, tacky instead of terrific? Katherine Sorrell has some ideas to bring back your home’s Christmas cheer with wreaths, baubles and garlands galore Choose a theme - Rather than assembling any old cacophony of decorations, choosing a theme brings unity to the overall look. It should suit the style of your house and the way your family celebrates the festive season, whether laid-back and relaxed, sophisticated or formal. For some, that might mean a traditional, living fir tree and a colour theme of red, green and gold. For others, a kitsch fake tree with fluorescent ornaments; or perhaps a minimal, modern style with pure silver and glass. A Scandinavian theme would involve simple decorations in red and white, while a colourful, contemporary theme would be based around one or two bright colours. Dress the tree - Start by winding it with lights – making sure they’re evenly distributed by occasionally switching them on and standing back for an overall impression. Use a small stepladder if necessary to reach the top. Next, drape your garlands, again aiming for evenness and an impression of generosity without overloading the tree. On small or slim trees, use slender garlands; on larger trees you can afford to go for heavier, fancier garlands. Last, hang your ornaments, with the largest first, filling in around them with smaller ones. Don’t hang all the ornaments on the tips of branches – placing some nearer the trunk creates a sense of depth and interest. Hang a wreath - For some, the making of a family wreath using foraged leaves, flowers, seeds, nuts and fruit is a significant part of the holiday season; for others, creating a decorative wreath offers the chance to experiment with exciting new materials, from tinsel to feathers, pearls to buttons. Alternatively, ready-made examples are available in any style imaginable, from classic to contemporary, heart-shaped or circular, small or large, utterly simple or lavish and complex. Whatever its style, a Christmas wreath always provides a wonderful sense of festive welcome. Make some decorations - Home-made Christmas decorations can be as elaborate or simple as you wish, be they charmingly childish or ultrasophisticated. Multi-coloured paper chains are

the ultimate in family favourites, as are cutwork paper stars and clove-studded oranges. How about pom pom snowmen, peg-doll angels or glitter-covered pine cones? Or mini stocking shapes cut out of felt and ginger biscuits to hang from the tree? It’s all great fun and will create happy memories for years to come. Wrap your presents - Transform present-wrapping from a chore to a pleasure by taking a little extra time and trouble. When they’re piled under the tree they will look so much better if they’re colourcoordinated and criss-crossed with ribbons and bows. Inexpensive paper – even brown paper or newsprint – looks lovely if adorned with a home-made label, while sequins, feathers, glitter, stamped designs and wired beads can all provide additional allure. For a frivolous finishing touch add a tiny pine cone, iced biscuit or small bauble. Sort out your cards - An abundance of cards can soon appear to cover every available surface, so it pays to establish a system as soon as they start arriving. The most straightforward option is to clear a shelf or two, and arrange them close together, large at the back and small at the front, in neat rows. Smaller cards can be tucked around a mirror or picture frame. An alternative is to staple them to ribbons (weighted by a bauble or pine cone) to hang in rows from a mantelpiece or along the side of the staircase. Create displays - Nothing says Christmas like poinsettias in pots, scented candles on the mantelpiece and ivy, holly and mistletoe draped over every available surface. Bowls of clementines or nuts are both ornamental as well as edible, while baubles or fairy lights (the latter placed near a handy socket) can also be bundled into a glass bowl or vase for a glittery effect. Now’s the time to dig out that special table runner and your best crockery, glassware and cutlery for an eyecatching table display, finished off with a dish, tray or platter filled with greenery, candles and other festive decorations.

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Christmas is on it’s way! is on it’s way!

• Christmas hampers to order, available gift wrapped in different sizes - pick your own products and we’ll do the rest! • Fresh fruit and vegetables available to order in advance (order forms available from the shop) he delicatessen on your • Fresh flower bouquets, Christmas door wreaths and decorations doorstep stocks many quality • Christmas puddings, cakes, desserts, biscuits and finest chocolates and unusual products unavailable • Fill your home with the fragrance of Christmas with our in supermarkets and also cater for scented and fragrant candles Member of your day to day needs. This year • Crystalware and a range of quality gifts we are stocking a large range of • Relishes, pickles, mulling spices and syrups quality Christmas products • Ingredients for home baking for your enjoyment. • Condiments, oils, dressings and conserves • Takeaway coffee beans and coffee to drink in

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A very vintage Christmas

By Claudia Leaf

It’s mid December and your newly-bought Christmas tree is standing naked in the corner of your living room. So it’s to the loft, garage or shed to dig out that battered old box of decorations. If your box is anything like mine, you’ll probably find a past-its-best fairy with drooping wings, some purple and silver baubles from the Millennium and two crushed crackers from last year’s Christmas lunch (couldn’t bear to throw them away) tangled together with swathes of tinsel, garlands, non-functioning fairy lights and springs of plastic holly. Most of my hoard is cheap, garish and ultimately disposable. But there’s one very special part of the collection that I will never throw away. It’s a treasured set of old-style, hand painted tree decorations, made out of wafer thin glass. Vintage tree ornaments are an evocative sight for those of us who were children in the 1950s and 60s: each year when I unwrap my collection it takes me back to a time when Christmas seemed truly magical and exciting. Although I understand the reasons why hanging delicate glass baubles on the Christmas tree – within grabbing distance of little hands - is no longer a good idea, it’s sad to think that such beautiful items are no longer readily available. The tradition of making glass tree decorations dates back to 17th century Bohemia (the modern day Czech Republic) and Germany. Today’s familiar ball shapes had their origins at a place called Lauscha in Germany, where legend has it they were first created when glass blowers competed to see who could blow the largest sphere before the molten glass popped. Those that survived were kept by the glassmakers’

wives, swirled with silver nitrate and sold at local markets as magic talismans, offering protection and blessing during the holy season. In 1848 a picture of the young Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree, hung with decorations brought from her husband Prince Albert’s native Germany, was published in the Illustrated London News. This sparked a copycat craze throughout Europe and soon whole families in the town of Lauscha were employed to mass-produce decorations – the menfolk blowing the glass and the women and children painting and finishing the ornaments. Later that century, German immigrants brought the same passion for glass decorations to America. Thanks to entrepreneur Frank Woolworth - who bought millions for his popular chain stores - what began as a cottage industry in Lauscha became an international phenomenon. By the mid-20th century new molding techniques had sped up mass production and reduced the cost of manufacture. In addition to the more conventional round and oval shapes, there were decorations shaped like musical instruments, stars, lanterns, mushrooms, snowflakes, snowy cottages and little figures of Santa Claus. My favourites were the exotic birds with silky fibre glass tails that clipped onto your tree and trembled like real birds. Nowadays most Christmas tree ornaments are made out of plastic, but if you do happen to find a Lauschan treasure lurking at the bottom of your decorations box, take good care of it. Vintage tree ornaments are becoming highly collectable and you can find sets on Ebay and other online auction sites for between £15 and £30.

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Colourful Cuba

BY SOLANGE HANDO

‘It’s the most beautiful land human eyes have ever seen’, said Christopher Columbus as he marvelled at this gem of an island, its lush mountains and virgin beaches lapped by the clear waters of the Caribbean, barely 100 miles from Florida. In this once troubled land, history is always within reach, but the real charm lies in the ever changing scenery and colourful cities. Take Santiago de Cuba, nestling on a vast aquamarine bay meandering, almost deserted, in and out of the mangrove, with its sturdy del Morro fortress and Granma island where rickety houses on stilts jostle along the shore. Beyond the winding lanes, the grand churches and colonial buildings festooned in bougainvillaea, coffee plantations climb up the slopes of the Sierra Maestra, among flame and papaya trees, wild lemon and pines. Up there at nearly 4000 feet, the air is cool and on a clear day, the panorama over Cuba’s second city dazzles you with colour and light. It’s a fair drive across the island but the best way to discover the rural heartlands; here a grove of carob trees, there the feathery blossom of jacarandas, a patch of cassava or the forlorn chimney of an old sugar mill. Pretty towns are sprinkled around Camaguey, famous for ballet and clay pots, Sancti Spiritus with its shaded arcades, Cienfuegos, the ‘Pearl of the South’ - set among flowering trees and elegant Italian style buildings. But framed by mountains clad in jungle and waterfalls, Trinidad is the jewel of them all, the mirror image of a nostalgic island where bicycles and horse-drawn carts outnumber conventional traffic. The heart of the town is a UNESCO site, a maze of colonial buildings, blue, yellow, pink

or pistachio green, with beautiful ironwork and red roofs glowing in the sun. In the cobbled alleyways, lace and embroidery flap in the breeze, drums echo in hidden courtyards and on the splendid Plaza Mayor, the old sugar capital enjoys its afternoon siesta. Meanwhile the steam train takes a handful of visitors to Sugar Mill Valley for fabulous views of hills and vales and sleepy villages sheltering under the mango trees. Heading west, luminous rice fields bask in the sunshine, rare birds and sea cows gather on the Zapata peninsula and soon, the capital beckons. Even for seasoned travellers, Havana defies imagination with its swirling kaleidoscope of colours and sounds, stunning palaces and crumbling ruins, wide boulevards and tangled lanes, revamped Cadillacs, side-cars, threewheeler scooter taxis and elegant horse-drawn carriages for tourists. The craft market sells Cuban dolls and hammocks while flower girls in bright costumes pose for pictures on Cathedral Square. It’s a wonderful dizzying city where you can eat al fresco, escape to nearby beaches, climb up to the fortress or follow the Hemingway trail to the fishing village of Cojimar. But the must-do excursion is to the hill town of Vinales, shaded by pine and orange trees, where pretty verandas frame every house in pastel colours. You can take a boat trip on an underground river to the Cave of the Indian Chief, partake of a farmer’s lunch in the forest and enjoy the view at the Jasmine Belvedere, overlooking the limestone hills which rise dragon-like from the valley floor. With its natural beauty and vibrant cities, Cuba is truly enticing.

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INVENTIONS - Christmas Tree Lights

By Leon F. Jones

There’s nothing that says ‘Christmas has arrived’ as much as a Christmas tree beautifully illuminated with lights. Some say that the tradition dates as far back as the 1600s when wealthy German families would decorate their trees with small candles held in place with pins or melted wax. Owing to the danger of fire however, the candles would only stay lit for several minutes at a time with home owners standing nervously by. Even after candle holders and lanterns became available, fires were common and insurance companies started refusing to pay claims. The solution was provided by a very well-known name and its unveiling must be one of the greatest publicity stunts of all time. In December 1880, in order to publicise his latest invention, Thomas Edison hung a string of electric lights around his laboratory in New Jersey. Passers-by were mesmerised by the beautiful display and associated it with yuletide celebrations. Two years later one of Edison’s inventors, Edward Johnson,

lit a Christmas tree with 80 small bulbs and by 1900, Christmas displays with lights started appearing in department store windows. On Christmas Eve, 1923, President Coolidge lit the National Christmas Tree near the White House with 3,000 lights. A string of lights cost about $12 which put buying them way out of reach of ordinary American families. General Electric, who had purchased the rights to Edison’s bulbs, even released advertisements suggesting families rented them. It wasn’t until 1925 when the Sadacca family, who owned a novelty lighting business, started mass manufacturing Christmas lights, that they become affordable. Today you can take your pick of incandescent or LED lights. Either way, what a pleasure it is to light up your tree in these cold winter months.

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Your perfect Christmas

celebrate your way! The perfect family Christmas – we’ve all seen it on the telly. Adoring parents watch beautiful children open immaculately wrapped gifts, their faces full of joy and wonder. So why is it that so many festive seasons consist of weeks of frantic present-buying, culminating in arguments, tantrums and burnt sprouts? I think that a lot of the stress of Christmas comes from our unreasonable expectations of the day. We can feel pressurised to celebrate in a way that is never going to work. Difficult as it may be, the most important thing is to think about what you really want from Christmas and to stick to it. Maybe you’d like to spend the day just with your partner, or to eat curry instead of turkey for once? If this ruffles people’s feathers, try a compromise – you could agree to do things one way this year and another the next. To avoid simmering tensions, say no to things you are really against, but offer an alternative. For example, you could suggest meeting up with friends or family during the quiet days between Christmas and the New Year. If you are the one who hosts the family Christmas lunch, ease the pressure by asking people to bring specific contributions, and allocate jobs beforehand. It may seem bossy,

but things will go much more smoothly if everyone knows what they are doing. On the day, designate one room as a chill-out place, where people can go to escape if they need to. And try to take a break from the sofa for a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to stagnate over Christmas and a dose of the great outdoors is good for everyone. Worrying about money is one of major causes of stress at Christmas and can spoil your enjoyment of the day. This year, why not challenge yourself to choose smaller gifts that are really special? You can look in local independent shops for unusual items, or try Christmas craft fairs and charity shops. Last year I decided to have a real budget Christmas and made food gifts for my friends and family. Ask a foodie friend, or search online if you’re stuck for recipes. (Nigella’s Chilli Jam is a good one.) Another idea is to give your time to help someone. Or you can buy pretty boxes, or bags, and make your own bespoke gift sets or kits. Christmas is said to be all about children, but I think for it to really work, the adults also need to have fun. So arrange some treats for yourself and make this Christmas really special – for you too!

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Support for Carers

Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living A unique local programme for carers of people with mild to moderate dementia will begin on 11 January 2013. Run by the Letchworth Centre for Healthy Living with the aid of a grant from Hertfordshire Community Foundation, the programme offers weekly hour-long sessions for both carers and carees. Carers will have an opportunity to participate in classes which feature gentle movement and breath work – all hugely relaxing and de-stressing – while carees, in an adjoining room, will attend a singing for please group around a piano. Each group will then, separately, have time to socialise over tea and biscuits. The approaches presented are well known for their general health benefits and their calming and de-stressing effects – and are suitable for

people of all ages and fitness levels. This programme follows in the wake of a successful pilot run earlier in the year which had been funded by a grant from the Health Inequalities Fund. ‘It was like the good old days when we used to go out together’, said one participant. And another: ‘ We were able to relax knowing that our partners were in safe hands and enjoying themselves independently.’ All sessions, held on 6 consecutive Fridays from 2:00-3:00pm , will take place at the Centre’s Rosehill Hospital premises, which have ample off road parking. Cost is £15 per person for the full 6 sessions (ie £2.50 per person per session). For further information or to book a place, call 01462 678804 or email Jaqui Derrick at jaqui@ letchworthcentre.org.

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1 Bedford Road, Henlow Camp SG16 6DR 01462 339660 bevmackereth@yahoo.co.uk

Second hand furniture and interesting items bought and sold. Come in a take a look we may have just what you are looking for. New stock weekly. Also house clearances wanted Ring Eric on 07906641241

(Located in Baldock)

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Garden and property maintenance internal and external repairs Fencing and timber structures Environmental retaining walls Shed repairs including new felt or roof Decorating and internal repairs Tiling, bathrooms and kitchens Plastering and plaster repairs General plumbing and electrical repairs

From start to finish we offer a professional and friendly service, so that all our customers are delighted to see the dramatic improvements to their property. Base preparation

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Chapman Property Maintenance

Please feel free to call Steve for general advice and an estimate

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Decking, paving, block paving, brickwork and groundworks Hardwood decking Softwood decking Gazebos and log cabins Paving - natural stone and concrete Block paving - rectangular and antiqued Brickwork Groundwork and site clearance Our team of professional Level site tradesmen can help you transform your living and garden space. You can benefit from a softer and warmer feel using a wide range of beautiful timber, natural stone or concrete products. Existing paving

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Chapman Property Maintenance 50 Plum Tree Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow Bedfordshire. SG16 6NE Tel: 01462 813164 or 07767 442904 Email: chapmanGL2000@aol.com

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GOOD WORK

IN BEDFORDSHIRE’S COUNTRYSIDE All over the county there are people quietly working away to improve the landscape or preserve its best features for future generations. Much of their effort goes unrecognised, but the Campaign to Protect Rural England Bedfordshire branch aims to give them a public pat on the back for their efforts with its annual Living Countryside Awards. The 2012 Awards were presented by Dr Mike Clarke, CEO of the RSPB in a recent ceremony at their headquarters in Sandy. CPRE’s Bedfordshire scheme is now in its fifth year and over that time well over a hundred projects have been entered. The Awards are not competitive and cover the natural landscape, new and old buildings within it and great examples of sustainable businesses. Anyone can nominate initiatives which enhance the countryside and each one is visited by an expert panel of judges. Three top Awards - the CPRE Mark - were given to Rushmere Country Park near Heath and Reach, the Unity Hall at Barton-le-Clay and the Community Tree Trust, which is based at Clophill. Rushmere covers some 400 acres of woodland, heath and meadows which were acquired by the Greensand Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council in 2009. The visitor centre has a spectacular view over pine forest and a lake that houses a heronry which can be viewed on CCTV. Its extensive footpath network includes adventure playgrounds and amusing sculptures.

Unity Hall is the realisation of a 30-year ambition held by the village to have a purpose built centre for the Scouts and Guides of the area. Its clever design echoes the simplicity of local farm buildings but it uses the latest energy saving technologies and blends into the beautiful backdrop of Sharpenhoe Clappers. The Community Tree Trust collects seeds from local species and grows them on for two to three years. They are then sold to landowners and farmers who want to restore or enhance their land with truly native trees; the Forest of Marston Vale has been a major recipient of the Trust’s work, for example. It has strong educational ethic, involving youngsters in the collecting of the seeds and is now diversifying into wild flowers. Other Award winners demonstrate the diversity of entries. The new Pear Tree Piece housing development at Old Warden, providing affordable homes for local people is designed to harmonise with the architecture of existing local buildings, whilst the restoration of the Ongley Mausoleum in the churchyard of the same village has preserved a local landmark from becoming derelict. Improved access to the countryside features strongly in projects at Polehanger Farm at Meppershall, where a kind farmer has opened up new footpaths across his land to create enjoyable and safer routes for walkers and in the village of Shefford, which has developed a lovely stretch of Bellcote Meadow as a public amenity. Further information about the CPRE Bedfordshire Awards is available at www.cprebeds.org.uk or from 01234 353331

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She-Fit Personal Training Tone those arms, legs, abdominals and bottoms with She-Fit Personal Training Reduce body fat, Increase muscle tone & strength, Improve your posture, stamina & energy levels, Decrease risk of heart disease, Lower blood pressure, Gain more confidence. Exclusive private studio for women based in the village of Meppershall, Bedfordshire First Consultation Free (approx. 1 hour) Single training session £25 per hour £100 – 5 hour (1 hour free)

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Party Perfect Make-Up

By Helen Taylor

We all know that it’s the most wonderful time of the year, so don’t hold back this Christmas: find a glamorous party look that’s guaranteed to make you the belle of the ball. Gorgeous hair and make-up is essential for whatever social gathering you’re attending and it’s the finishing touches that make you look really special. December’s party season is the one month in the calendar where you can really embrace a strong make-up look - so make the most of it. We’ve found one that will look great with whichever little black dress you’ll be wearing: it’s classic, sophisticated and perfect for Christmas, and here’s how to achieve it. Sophisticated Christmas Glamour: Get the look Porcelain skin, flushed cheeks, berry stained lips and defined eyes make fabulous make-up at this time of year. Embracing your natural complexion and choosing a foundation shade that’s close to it can give incredible results and a really classy finish. If you’re used to applying bronzer though, leaving it off - even in the winter - will take a little getting used to, but it’s always good to step out of your cosmetic comfort zone and try something new. Skin really has to be flawless for this look. Use a primer first, then apply a covering foundation using a foundation brush. Choose a light-reflecting loose powder to apply on top of your foundation for a radiant glow that helps to set your base. Although glittery cosmetics are everywhere at this time of year, it really is best to stay away from them, because shimmer and glitter show up every line and wrinkle and aren’t flattering unless you’re a teenager. If you do fancy some sparkle, opt for a dazzling nail varnish instead. Sculpt cheekbones by applying a blusher in a dusky pink hue. Remember not to place the colour too close to the centre of your face - smile as you apply it, to see the apples of your cheeks, and sweep upwards and outwards. Next, lightly define your eyes. Use a neutral eyeshadow across the lids and brow bone, then apply a light brown shade in the socket, and a deeper brown in the far corner. Brush your brows into shape using a brow brush, pluck away any stray hairs and emphasise them

with a hint of colour. Use a brow powder to add definition and shape - it’s worth doing this even if you don’t usually, as strong make-up calls for more defined brows - and finish with a slick of gel to set them. Choose a liquid liner in black and line your top lid. Extend the line out to create a small flick if you want to. Wait for it to dry fully before curling your eyelashes and apply lashings of mascara. For extra definition use false eyelashes, but make sure that they are natural looking. Use a soft black eye-pencil under your eye, and on the inner rim choose black liner for a smoky look or white for a wide-eyed look. Finish with a touch of mascara. Use a lip liner in a shade that compliments your lipstick and create a great shape. Using a lip brush, apply your lipstick. Choose a berry-red hue for instant glamour and finish with a dab of lip gloss in the centre of your lips for a really full look. Remember, Christmas comes but once a year - so enjoy every minute.

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East Anglian Air Ambulance

Tourist Information-style Councillor Angela Barker, Chair of Central Bedfordshire Council, was snapped up on her offer to open a shop for East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) on Thursday 1 November in Ampthill. The charity – which provides Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk – launched its ‘Illuminate & Inspire’ Night Flying Fundraising Campaign at the end of October, with the Ampthill premises acting as a high street information point for the next 3 months. The charity hopes to obtain approval from the Civil Aviation Authority to carry out emergency landings at the scene of serious incidents during the hours of darkness with its new Eurocopter EC135T2E helicopter – an approval which it is hoped will see East Anglian Air Ambulance become the first dedicated air ambulance in the UK to do so. Bedfordshire Area Fundraising Manager, Paul Airton, says “I became involved with the charity in March 2007 – when the Bedfordshire Appeal aimed to provide the county with an air ambulance, an appeal

which through the hard work and generosity of our supporters was so successful we have had our helicopter, Anglia Two, since September of that year. Today, we hope that the county which hadn’t an air ambulance five years ago will soon have the benefit of probably the singularly most important air ambulance in the Country. Hopefully, it won’t just be Santa that’s flying in the dark at Christmas!” The shop is located at 11 Bedford Street, Ampthill, and will be open Monday to Saturday 10am until 4pm. The charity will be operating it not as a traditional charity shop, but as an information centre, and retail outlet for its branded merchandise. If you would like to find out more about the charity, its ambitions, and how you can help it save lives, simply pop in and have a chat! As part of the “Illuminate & Inspire” Campaign the shop will remain open until 31 Jan 2013.

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COMPETITION · COMPETITION · COMPETITION WIN TWO FREE TICKETS TO HATS PANTOMINE Two lucky people have a chance to win free tickets to the fantastic HATS Pantomime at Henlow Theatre, who are performing seven shows in Jan and Feb 2013. To have a chance of winning, all you have to do is correctly answer the three questions below and submit your answers by email to friendofhenlowtheatre@gmail.com. It couldn’t be easier. The lucky winners will be notified by email before Christmas. All entrants will be kept informed of future productions. Good luck everybody. Pantomime is always about familiar characters and plots given a certain conventional treatment, usually involving a dame, hero or heroine along with a villain and a couple of gormless layabouts whose loyalty is often questionable. Blood Brothers the Fairytale, is no exception. It’s witty, cleverly written, full of gags and silly situations. Geoff Fagg our earstwhile award winning director puts all his years of pantomime experience to good use to bring his wonderful fairytale to life. Dame Dolly Dingle, a beautiful young women (her opinion, of course, others may beg to differ) has been recently widowed, (aww!) but the blow has been softened by the fact that she has recently given birth to twin boys – Jack & Simon. Life is very difficult in the small village of Much-Snoringin-the-Hay with the evil giant charging exorbitant rents and hugh taxes, collected by the nice Mr Jolly the rent collector. Being the Dame, however, somewhat predictably she also falls foul of the Demon King – a nasty piece

of work who kidnaps one of her sons (Jack) in revenge for her accidentaly ruining his magic coat. He recruits two odd-job men to dispose of the baby but they can’t quite do the dastardly deed and the baby is found by Mr & Mrs Jolly who raise him as one of their own along with Jill their daughter, and fortunately they call him Jack. (Whoopee). Ten years pass and the two boys meet at the same school and become firm friends and also make the teacher’s life somewhat difficult (more fun). Time passes and as Simon is about to leave school he falls in love with Jill (Jack’s sister?) and they go to a café where Dame Dingle is keen to tell Simon all about his lost brother but some funny antics happen in the café and Dame Dingle doesn’t get the chance. Where did that gorilla come from??? Jack leaves to tackle the evil giant without telling anyone where he is going but there is another twist in the tale as on his journey he meets Dawn and he falls in love. The Giant isn’t who he seems (another twist in the tale) and when Jack returns he has worked out a daring plan to get rid of the Demon King. In the meantime, Mr Jolly has been trying to get the rent from Dame Dingle, who he has a bit of a crush on and since becoming a widower ….., you understand. HATS perform to a very high standard and boast excellent facilities, including a very comfortable 100 seat tiered theatre and a licensed bar. They perform three productions per year; 3 one act plays in May, a full length play in October and a Panto in Jan/Feb.

QUESTIONS:

What is the name of the small village? What is the name of the dame? How many productions a year does HATS perform at Henlow Theatre? HATS shows on 25, 26, 27 Jan and 1, 2 Feb 2013 Seven performances including three matinees on 26 & 27 Jan and 2 Feb Doors open 1.15pm and 7:15pm. Curtain up 2pm and 8pm Family rate: 2 adults and up to 3 children £26 Adults £8, Concessions £6, Group rate:10 or more just £6 each Box Office: 01462 700785 / 07876 353677 or 01462 629233 or www.henlowtheatre.co.uk Henlow Theatre, Hitchin Rd, Henlow Camp SG16 6DN (next to the Post Office)

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Tax Returns Submissions Date 31st January 2013 No need to use bookkeepers and accountants when you can use our simple and easy to use bookkeeping software package at a fraction of the cost

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Winter Planters

by pippa Greenwood Even if you’re sure you’re not going to venture out in to your garden much in the colder months, make sure you have every possible encouragement by creating a winter planter or two. A pretty planter on the front steps or gracing the patio will not only look gorgeous from the warm comfort of the house, but will also help to coax you outside from time to time. Grab a container, some compost and a selection of plants and be creative. Larger is better, as once temperatures drop a larger container is more likely to protect the roots on the plants due to the greater volume of compost. Frozen roots are fatal, so this is really worth bearing in mind. I’d avoid any container less than 30cm (12in) diameter if possible, unless you live in a very mild area. Remember that summer bedding displays can be pulled out now, so you can always re-use suitable containers once the plants have been cleared. Any container will insulate the roots a little, but one made from thick wood (such as a wooden trough or window box, or a half-barrel) will be very effective. Good quality, fairy chunky plastic also works quite well. Try to avoid metal as this tends to conduct cold. Warm undergarments are all the rage for winter planters. A lining of bubble-wrap polythene or even a few layers of old fabric or carpet, sandwiched between the sides of the container and the compost will help to keep both compost and roots warm. I always save packaging materials from parcels for this sort of thing; why not pull out the bubble-wrap inner lining from a large padded envelope and use that? If you live in a particularly cold area, or simply want to decrease the risk of winter damage further, try to position winter planters out of the windiest areas. If possible place them fairly close to a house wall on the south or west side as this will help to provide a little extra warmth. A visit to your local plant nursery or garden centre at this time of year should fill you with inspiration as you’ll be amazed at the range of plants available for adding winter colour and interest to pots and planters. Some of my favourites are the universal or other winter flowering pansies or even hardier smaller flowered violas. For some seriously sturdy winter colour, try the winter flowering heathers as these make a good

base for the display and you can, if you wish, add trailing plants such as variegated ivies to help provide extra colour, texture and interesting leaf shapes. All these plants will last for years, not just the winter months. At this time of year you are likely to find many garden centres offer very tiny versions of shrubs such as skimmias, Pieris or hollies and many of the dwarf conifers. Although these obviously have the potential to grow considerably larger, they will provide good colour and interest in a container for a year or two and can then be planted out into the garden and allowed to reach their full size. In warmer areas, you will also be able to add bright patches of colour to your display using the ‘winter cherry’ or solanum which has bright yellow and orange fruits and also many of the polyanthus whose super-sized, primrose-like flowers come in a wide range of really showy colours. You could also use a few winter flowering cyclamen but these definitely need a very sheltered spot such as a window box on a protected wall. Finally, don’t forget to prolong the time which the planter will look gorgeous by adding in a few early spring flowering bulbs such as miniature narcissus, crocus and miniature iris. There are many different forms, colours and shapes of all these bulbs available and if hidden beneath the roots of your winter bedding plants, you will forget they are there until they burst out in spring and produce a lovely flush of fresh, pretty colour and often some delightful perfume too. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com and sign up for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’. Choose from a fantastic selection of vegetables that Pippa will send to you at just the right time for planting AND each week you receive an email telling you all you need to know to ensure great results – from just £29 for up to 66 garden-ready plants.

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Rural Ramblings BY GEOFF WHARTON Closing The Door after the Horse Has Bolted?

It is so reassuring to know that our rural interests are being protected so assiduously. The government was so quick to respond to the latest fungal terrorist attack by the incurable Ash dieback fungus. After having learned that the disease was now established here, it pulled out all of the stops to ban the import of all ash trees (which could make the situation worse?) and arrange for the meeting of “Cobra” to formulate an action plan of significance. The outcome of this high- powered committee is that we wash our children and our boots after visiting a woodland in order to reduce the spread of the mainly wind-borne fungal spores. As stated in the Forestry Commission information guide, the spores are only able to survive for a few days and there is a low probability that dispersal is via birds, clothing and insects. I suppose that when you have been “caught out”, giving sensible advice is better than saying nothing at all! It is so distressing to see our large trees dying. The devastation caused by Dutch Elm Disease followed by diseases affecting Oak and Horsechestnut indicate that the situation could be serious. The question is are fungal diseases becoming more of a problem? Have we been previously protected by our island geography? Is the increased transport and movement of produce from sites where such diseases are endemic a price we have to pay for greater choice and availability and is climatic stress a significant factor in reducing resistance. It is interesting to note that in the UK wild population of our ash trees, it is recognised that there are some trees which show some degree of immunity. Would it not be a good idea to research this with

an aim of developing propagated replacements in anticipation of replanting requirements? In this increasingly changing world, it is such a pity that our organisations are still seemingly re-active rather than pro-active. I suppose that it all comes down to resources and priorities of spending but I feel that we do need to concentrate on future issues of concern and respond with practical action before the problem becomes too big to deal with. More to the point, I don’t understand we have to import trees which grow like weeds anyway. Anyone who has an ash tree near a garden will have spent many hours removing self-sown seedlings which are trying to take over! These imported trees will not be propagated from our native stock and will not be as well adjusted to our particular growing conditions. However, no good crying over spilt milk! The disease is here and now we must deal with it as efficiently as possible. Perhaps advice such as washing children needs to be upgraded?

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ANIMAL STORIES

Oldies can be goodies too Do you remember the Jubilee celebrations earlier in the year? Many of us were awestruck at the energy and charisma of our 86 year-old Queen. Around the same time, two little Westie Terriers – also in their twilight years – were unceremoniously dumped. Fred and Bob are absolutely fantastic dogs. They’re over 10 years old, but actually seem much younger when you meet them. They are playful, friendly and have soft, silky fur. Unbelievably, both were taken to a vets to be put to sleep. Did they have an incurable illness? No. Have they got severe behavioural problems? No. Their crime was to be considered ‘old’ by their owners. The RSPCA North Bedfordshire branch stepped in to care for these lovely boys and to try and re-home them. Older animals are often harder to re-home as people focus on the negative aspects of age, rather than the positives. However, with an older dog you can get all the love, loyalty and fun – without the destructive behaviour, neediness and intensive hours needed to train a young puppy. Although it took over 8 months for Fred and Bob,

they have now found a perfect home in Putnoe with a retired couple who met them – and instantly fell in love. Their days are spent snuggled in front of the fire, relaxing on their Mum’s lap and having an enjoyable walk and sniff in their own garden. So, if you’re thinking of adopting a dog, why not consider an oldie? Fred and Bob’s new owners wouldn’t change them for the world. There are many animals in our care looking for a forever home. If you’re interested in adopting one, please contact us. ANIMAL STORIES 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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Ford B-Max

BY JAMES BAGGOTT Ford has ditched its forgettable Fusion and replaced it with a bold car sporting no B-pillars, but is it any good? We find out. What is it? It is the first car in a massive product offensive from the Blue Oval, designed to keep the car giant profitable in Europe. The B-Max replaces the forgettable – but much-loved among certain UK buyers – Fusion and goes up against rivals from Vauxhall, Honda, Nissan and Citroen in the B-segment MPV market. But to steal sales away from these firms, the B-Max has a party-piece – no B-pillars. What’s under the bonnet? Petrol buyers will be able to choose between the new 1.0 litre Ecoboost engine with 99bhp or 118bhp. There’s also a 1.4 litre Duratorq with 89bhp and a 1.6-litre Ti-VCT unit with 104bhp and an automatic gearbox. Diesels include a 1.5 with 74bhp and a 1.6 with 94bhp. Ford says the best seller will be the 1.6-litre diesel, but, in time, the 1.0-litre could claim that title. What’s the spec like? The range kicks off at £12,995 for the Studio 1.4-litre petrol which comes with electric mirrors and electric windows front and rear, while prices top out at £18,895 for the Titanium 1.6-litre diesel. That model comes as standard with 16-inch alloys, auto headlamps and Ford system – a clever voice control and device integration system. It’s a £250

option on all models bar the Titanium. What’s it like to drive? At launch we drove the 1.0-litre Ecoboost 118bhp and the 1.6-litre diesel. The 1.0-litre is a blast yet still offers agreeable fuel economy figures – 55.4mpg combined is quoted – while the 1.6-litre diesel is sluggish. It has light steering and the ride is supple. The B-Max retains the Fiesta’s fun handling – a car on which it’s based. What do the press think of it? The Telegraph said: ‘After the execrable Fusion, Ford has worked hard to produce something different and worthwhile. This is a wellengineered car, safe and good looking.’ Honest John adds: ‘And anyone already contemplating a Citroen C3 Picasso, a Hyundai ix20, a Kia Venga, a Toyota Verso S or a Vauxhall Meriva should get down to their Ford dealers and take a look.’ We asked Ford of Britain MD Mark Ovenden how much of a change the B-Max is over the old Fusion. ‘It’s a completely different vehicle. Fusion did pretty well for us and our dealers, but with B-Max the wow is the door system. B-Max also has lots of style, a large range of clever features and, of course, there’s the 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine. The B-Max is an excellent car – whereas the Fusion was essentially just a high-riding vehicle. B-Max has a got a lot more strength to it. As one of my younger colleagues said to me, the B-Max is more of an automotive app than a car!’ What do we think of it? This could well be the new class-leader as it makes other cars in this sector seem terribly conservative. Without having the benefit of trying all the engines and specifications, we can only really recommend the 1.0-litre Ecoboost 118bhp Titanium model which retails at £17,595. It’s not cheap but it’s probably worth the money. Model: Ford B-Max Price: £17,595 (as tested) Engine: 1.0-litre, petrol. Power: 118bhp, 169Nm Max speed: 109mph 0-60mph: 13s MPG (comb’d): 55.4 Emissions: 119g/km Residual values (three years): 37 percent

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Cash 4 Cars Tel: 07429 883884

Cash 4 Cars All cars and vans brought for cash £100-£5000 Runners and non runners Fully insured.

Find your ideal car today! 01462 457070 / 07595 875414 25 High Street, Shillington, Herts, SG5 3LL www.johncoxcars.co.uk john@johncoxcars.co.uk

For a polite and friendly service call Paul on 07429 883884

Ace Garage Doors Quality, Reliability and Great Value

• High levels of security • Sales, service and repairs • Same day service 24/7 • Free no obligation quotations • Suppliers and installers for all leading garage doors • Automation for new and existing garage doors

Hitchin: 01462 812927 Stevenage: 01438 742664

Mobile: 07870 987817 www.ace-garage-doors.co.uk

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SEASONAL DELIGHTS MINI CHRISTMAS CAKES These delightful mini fruit and nut topped cakes are perfect for giving as a festive foodie present. Simply wrap in clear cellophane and tie with gold ribbon or place in small gift boxes. Makes 9 Ready in 4 hours, plus cooling

INGREDIENTS 250g butter, softened 250g dark muscovado sugar 4 medium eggs, beaten 350g plain flour 2 tsp ground mixed spice ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground cloves Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 800g mixed dried fruit 100g glace cherries, rinsed, dried and chopped 100g chopped mixed nuts For the decoration 750g marzipan Icing sugar, for dusting 4 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved Mixed coloured glace cherries, walnut halves, Brazil nuts and chopped dried apricots 1 Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/gas 2. Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake tin with a double thickness of greased, greaseproof paper.

2 Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and cream together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs. Sift together the flour and spices then fold into the creamed mixture. Fold in the lemon zest, dried fruit, glace cherries and nuts and mix thoroughly. 3 Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin and smooth the surface. Use the back of a metal spoon to make a slight dip in the centre (this will help to give an even rise). Bake in the preheated oven for 3¼ - 3 ½ hours or until firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin. 4 When the cake is completely cold, use a sharp knife to cut it into 9 smaller square cakes. Brush the sides of each cake with a little apricot jam. Divide the marzipan into 9 pieces. Dust a surface lightly with icing sugar and roll each piece out to a strip long enough to go around each cake. Wrap the strips around the cakes pinching the ends together to seal. Top each cake with a selection of cherries, nuts and apricots. Tie a ribbon around each cake if liked.

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Oven Cleaning! - It’s a dirty job! Why do it yourself? We clean ovens using non-caustic, non-toxic products in your home. Ovens • Ranges • Hobs • Extractors Agas • Microwaves • Barbecues (May - Sept) . . .

Single Oven (all racks/pans inc)........................£35 Single Oven & Grill Oven (all racks/pans inc).....£45 Single Separate Grill Oven (racks/pans inc)......£15 Microwaves & Combination Ovens....................£20 Extractor Fan (free filter for next clean).............£12 Hob..................................................................£12 Agas and Ranges priced accordingly Oven Bulbs replaced for free in all jobs V.A.T free

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

parent company est. 1998

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1st Glass Window Repairs 30

years experience

James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging

FULLY INSURED!

• coving

Local company who can fix all types of problems with your double glazing, call us now for a free quotation.

• general household maintenance

Steamed Up Glass Faulty Window or Door Locks & Hinges Draughty Windows and Doors Leaking Conservatory Roofs Fascias and Gutters New Conservatory Roofs

• free estimates

EMERGENCY SERVICE AVAILABLE

07511 906161

• plastering services available • fully insured

References available t: 01462 817 122 m: 07899 888 e: go_on_james@hotmail.com

545

10 Mill Lane, Campton, Shefford, Beds

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SKIING THE FRENCH ALPS

WITH ABOVE ALL CHALET COMPANY For us Brits to ski, the French Alps are just about unbeatable - they are close, so relatively cheap and easy to get to, beautiful and dramatic, and challenging for every skier. Alpine holidays can be divided into two categories; the package and the chalet. If you want cheap, low quality and minimum service, by all means take the package deal and spend your holiday wondering what you are eating and where on the mountain you are. If however, your tastes run more towards value for money, good food, personal service and a little luxury, you need to look at the chalet holiday. Take Above All Chalet Company for example – newly launched by a local girl - the staff will meet you at the airport, transport you in just one hour to a luxury apartment in the centre of the charming and traditional village of Les Gets, hand you the inclusive skis and passes they have arranged on your behalf and accompany you up onto the mountain which they know like the back of their hands.

Once exhausted they will ply you with inclusive beer, wine and freshly baked cake and send you off to the spa while they prepare a sumptuous 3 course dinner. And even better, this happens every single day! So, yes you can ski for £450, but if you ski for £800 you will be more relaxed, enjoy more time with your young ones, be better fed and everything will be tailored to your personal needs. And you will never have to wonder which way up a lift map goes… Find out more about Above All Chalet Company at www.aboveallchaletcompany.com

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CODEWORD

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

9 X 9 PUZZLE

How to play Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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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To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

Quality PVC-U Windows & Doors MANUFACTURERS & INSTALLERS

Windows, Doors, Conservatories, Bi-Folding Doors & Composite Doors

COMMERCIAL & DOMESTIC • Verticle Sliding Sash Windows • Casement Windows • Residential & French Doors • Patio Doors • Pivot Windows • 10 Year Insurance Backed Guarantee • Discount for Pensioners • FENSA Certification

Unit 2-6 Shannon Place, Potton, Sandy, Beds SG19 2SP T. 01767 260 626 E. sales@pottonwindows.co.uk

www.pottonwindows.co.uk

Potton Windows Limited was established in 1987

Lots of Choice Immediate Availability

The Carpet Trade Centre All types of roofing work undertaken. Friendly, reliable and professional service.

Tel: 07989 423449 or 01767 317121 www.baroofing.co.uk 50

• • • •

Over 10,000sq ft of warehouse to choose from 100’s of designs, stock always changing Vinyl/cushion floor stock Large choice of rugs

Delivery and fitting service in days rather than weeks Low, low prices, high quality stock

Tel: 01462 851637 Units 5A-6, Henlow Industrial Estate Henlow SG16 6DS

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Hygiene

in the home Home hygiene? We all know what we should be doing to keep our home hygienically clean - or do we? Most of us think we know what to do to keep our homes clean - but one study found that two-thirds of Britons don’t follow basic home hygiene. Do you know what temperature your fridge should be? Or that clothes left on the floor can pick up germs? Or that within eight hours one bacterium on a damp cloth can multiply to six million? Read on... Kitchen Work surfaces: A quick wipe with a damp cloth is not enough to kill bacteria - particularly if you’ve been using the same cloth for a few days. Use a disinfectant or antibacterial spray to clean surfaces - and don’t just leave that dried bit of food that’s been lurking in the corner for the past week. A home hygiene survey carried out by the Hygiene Council found that in 12% of cases visibly clean surfaces were in fact heavily contaminated by bacteria. Food preparation: It is estimated that up to 80% of food-borne illnesses happen in the home. Micro-organisms that cause these illnesses can be spread from raw meat onto chopping boards, worktops and utensils. Always use a separate board for chopping vegetables from the one on which you chop raw meat. Your fridge should be at 5ºC. Defrosting and cooking: Always follow the instructions for defrosting food, particularly in a microwave where being only a few seconds off can make a difference. Always make sure food, particularly meat, is cooked to 70ºC. Reheated food should also be heated at 70ºC or above and only re-serve leftovers once. Cooked food should not be left at room temperature for longer than two hours. Dishcloths: These are the worst culprits for harbouring germs. Always use disposable cloths and rinse them out thoroughly after each use, before hanging them to dry. If they remain damp it allows bacteria to quickly multiply. Living/sleeping areas Bacteria in food dropped on the floor or sofa can survive for a long time, so ignore these at your peril. Regularly vacuuming the sofa will help prevent debris building up. It will also help to

eliminate dust mites, which can cause allergies. Steam cleaning living room furniture and beds is a good way to rid them of mites. Curtains can also be home to bacteria and mites if not cleaned properly. Again, steam cleaning is a good way to thoroughly deep clean or take the curtains to the dry cleaners. Toys often carry lots of germs as babies and small children love to drag them along the floor - and then put them in their mouth. Clean hard or plastic toys by washing them in warm, soapy water. Soft toys can often be put through the washing machine - check the label. Bathrooms Bathrooms are probably one of the cleaner rooms in the house as we know to clean the toilet well to protect against germs. But how often do you also disinfect the loo handle/ button or the bathroom door handle? Children should wash their hands every time after using the loo, but often forget, meaning germs are easily spread. Shower trays are another area where germs can easily build up, so make sure these are given more than a swift wipe. Simple measures mean it doesn’t have to be hard work to keep your home hygienically clean, keeping your family safe.

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R . France EST. 1970 & Son All building works undertaken Extensions Modernizations Loft and garage conversations Bathrooms into wet rooms PVCU Windows and Doors Disabled Ramps Decorating/ papering etc Please call 01767 223675 / 01767 315214 07880 594495 / 07929 732850

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The best gifts for gadget fans

for the person who has everything Buying Christmas presents for gadget fans can be difficult, because they don’t tend to wait for special occasions to splash out - but before you reach for the stand-by option of perfume or socks, it’s worth thinking laterally. The answer to the question “what do you buy for the person who has everything?” is often “accessories”. This doesn’t necessarily mean brightly coloured cases or novelty items that plug into laptops’ USB ports, although of course there are plenty of those to choose from; novelty USB items are this decade’s equivalent of hilarious musical socks, and best avoided. In many cases accessories can make gadgets even more useful. Take the Eye-Fi Connect memory card, for example: it’s a camera memory card with built-in Wi-Fi, so it turns any camera into a connected one for instant uploading. It’s not as expensive as you might expect - at the time of writing a 4GB Eye-Fi Connect X2 is £32.25 on Amazon - and it will genuinely delight any camera fan. Just make sure it’ll fit: Eye-Fi cards are designed to fit in SDHC slots, which you’ll find in most but not all modern cameras. Another camera favourite is the Gorillapod, an innovative camera tripod that can hang on to almost anything. It’s available for everything from smartphones to enormous digital SLRs, and prices start at around £10. Unlike traditional tripods it doesn’t need to sit on the ground: you can wrap it around lampposts and tree branches, hang it from tables or put it on your head. There are no shortage of useful accessories for iPads, and one of the best is Logitech’s Ultrathin Keyboard (around £75), which essentially turns

an iPad into a small laptop. If you’d rather spend a little less, there are tablet styluses for writing notes and drawing for as little as £6.30 (Griffin’s Apple iPad Stylus), rising to around £22 for the Pogo Sketch Pro. Such styluses work not just on iPads, but any touchscreen device including rival tablets and smartphones. As you’ve probably noticed in the shop, Apple owners are particularly well served by accessories: you can’t wander round the supermarket without tripping over a pile of iPhone alarm clocks and speaker docks. Such items make great presents, but be careful which ones you buy: with the arrival of the iPhone 5 in September, Apple dumped its existing dock connector in favour of a smaller connector called Lightning. Accessories designed for the iPhone 4 and earlier will still work, but they’ll need an expensive adapter for the iPhone 5, updated iPods and updated iPads - and in some cases the cost of the adapter may be more than the cost of the accessory. It’s definitely worth checking which version the person has before spending any money - advice that also applies to very useful multi-device chargers such as the Bluelounge Refresh (£69.99), which can charge multiple gadgets simultaneously. If you’re still stuck for ideas, there’s always the famous answer to the present for someone who has everything: a box for them to put it all in. Rather than a box we’d recommend a bag, and we particularly like the Unit Portables bags (£59.99 from Muazo.co.uk): while they’re designed to accommodate gadgets, chargers and their accessories, they’re smart, stylish and available in a range of eye-catching colours.

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Ty Interiors Prize Crossword 1st Prize £25 Name:

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

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before 14th December 2012. Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel:

Address:

Please enter me into the prize draw to be drawn at end of 3 months for £1000 off a fully fitted kitchen. T&C’s apply. (Please tick) Last Month’s Crossword Winners. Congratulations to: 1st prize - Mr Paul Note from Upper Caldecote and 2nd prize - Mrs C Williams from Godmanchester For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com Across 1 South American animal (6) 4 Clans (6) 9 Whirlwind (7) 10 Male duck (5) 11 Casseroles (5) 12 Surprised (7) 13 Source of power (11) 18 Cars, buses etc. (7) 20 Dangerous (5) 22 Tacks (5) 23 Graceful (7) 24 Eighth month (6) 25 Flow (6) Down 1 Painter (6) 2 American handbag (5) 3 Masterpiece (7) 5 Wireless (5) 6 Woollen cover (7) 7 Fast (6) 8 Assembled (11) 14 Departing (7) 15 Right (7) 16 Lines of a verse (6) 17 Method (6) 19 Clenched hands (5) 21 Frighten (5)

Pleasemention mentionThe TheVillager Villagerand andTown TownLife Lifewhen whenresponding respondingtotoadverts adverts Please

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Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates

Tel: 07507 963008 Boiler replacements and breakdowns Power flushing General plumbing & heating Radiators, cylinders and tanks. Gas safe registered.

Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

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Roofline Revelations

LANGFORD WINDOWS

Roofline can be the icing on the cake when done well. It gives the house a groomed effect and where matched with ship-lap cladding brings a whole feature to the house in itself. Roofline is composed of guttering which leads up to the base of the roof, fascia board runs across the front – most often seen in white or black, but actually available in many colours – and soffits running underneath creating a tidy, boxed-in appearance. Many people don’t realise the variation of products and materials on the market. As with any purchase you get what you pay for, and that has to match to your personal and budgetary requirements. Know your options by getting a range of quotes. You may find some costings come in significantly cheaper. It’s vital that you ask whether the company will fully remove the old roofline, replacing it entirely, or whether it is “cap-over” which means the new soffits and fascia will be attached to the existing product – cheaper initially, but in the long run when the existing boards warp and disintegrate it’s simply a false economy. Expect new, full replacement

soffits and fascia to be guaranteed for at least 10 years. If you are simply getting the house ready to sell you might wish to create a polished exterior, spending the least amount possible, but full replacement is always a good selling point and the guarantee is on the product so can be transferred to the new owner. Wood products can look lovely but with persistent exposure to the elements, require constant maintenance - being so high, this isn’t the easiest task to perform. Generally speaking UPVC boards require virtually care. Something you might not be aware of, however, but it certainly wouldn’t take too long to realise, is that some plastics contain zinc. To avoid rust streaks running down your brickwork make sure all the items you are purchasing are made from non-zinc materials. A final option you might wish to consider is the inclusion of bird-comb. This handy fringing prevents intrusion from birds and insects, which might otherwise find your new home-improvement to be a place they can also enjoy!

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what’S ON?

IN DECEMBER

30th October-9 January 2013 Xhibit @ Priory House Office hours Priory House, Shefford Free admission An exciting mix of pastel, painting, photography, prints and ceramics by Artists’ Network Bedfordshire artists Michael Brace, Janis Coles, Ian Grinham, Carol Mountford, Anja Penger-Onyett, Ruth Rickwood and Jamie Stevenson 1 December Ashwell Christmas Fair 9.30am-1pm St Mary’s Church, Ashwell Arts and Crafts, Cakes and Cards, Presents and Prizes. The Choir will sing carols and refreshments will be available. Ashwell Museum will also be open. 1 December The Signals Museum 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry permit from the Guardroom. See website for full information. The museum will next be open on 2 February 2013. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

1 December The Damned On Tour 7.30pm Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford Tickets £20 Loco-A-Gogo 2012 with special guests The Dickies. Web: www.officialdamned.com Tickets: www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk 3 December Craft Fair 7pm The Ivy Leaf Club, Station Road, Langford A selection of Christmas gifts, Pamper evening and lots more. Bar open. Members and nonmembers welcome. 4, 11 & 18 December Tuesday Morning Walkers 9.30-11.30am RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Adults £3, RSPB Members free. £4 per vehicle to non-RSPB members Weekly walks around the reserve with a leader, looking for birds, wildlife and enjoying the site. Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge

5 December Christmas Social 8pm 1 December St Andrew’s Church Hall, Church Street, Community Carol Singing & ‘Get in the Picture’ Langford 5pm Members £1, Visitors £1.50 Shefford High Street Langford History Society’s Christmas Why not start your Christmas preparations social evening with entertainment. Annual off on the right note, with carols and the membership £4 and charge of £1 per meeting. opportunity to have your picture in a Nativity Visitors welcome at all meetings. scene, all for free! Tel: Ted 01462 701096 Web: www.langfordhistorysociety.org.uk Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts 58

what’S ON? IN DECEMBER

8 December Community Christmas Fair 12 Noon-4pm Memorial Hall, Stotfold Free entry Over 30 stalls including homemade preserves, gifts, toys, cards, books, fudge, holly wreaths and plants. Light refreshments, children’s activities, Exhibition of Memorabilia from Three Counties Asylum and old photos from Stotfold and much more. Santa Claus will be there too. Proceeds for selected young people’s activities in Stotfold. 8 December Christmas Market 12 noon-4pm Clophill Methodist Church, High Street, Clophill Free admission Stalls, raffle and refreshments. 8 December East Beds Concert Band Christmas Concert 6.30pm Stratton School, Biggleswade The concert starts a little earlier than usual with children in mind. The band will play a wide range of different types of music so something for everyone to enjoy - from Finlandia and Sweeney Todd to a Jackson Five hits compilation with some Christmas tunes. The concert band will be supported by the award winning East Beds Youth Choir. Refreshments including mulled wine and mince pies.

15 & 16 December Christmas Tree Festival Saturday 12 noon-5pm Sunday 11.30am-5pm St. Peter’s Church, Arlesey 22 December Christmas Mostly Music 11am to Midday St Mary’s Church, Baldock THE Saturday Morning event Contemporary music with a Christmas feel. Come and enjoy coffee, tea and Cake with Praise Be! St Mary’s modern music band; The only Christian Band to play at this year’s Balstock Festival. 10 January To the Edges of the Universe Course £50 for 10 1½hr sessions. Various concessions available. St Andrews Church Hall, Church Street, Langford, SG18 9QA Langford WEA. Many exciting discoveries are being made by giant telescopes and space probes combined with computer techniques are pushing our knowledge of the Universe to its edges. Tutor Tony Woodhouse. Tel: Jean Chapman 01462 700306

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

9 December Christmas Shopping Afternoon 12.30-4pm Arlesey Social Club Lots of stalls, Children’s entertainment, Christmas music, BBQ, raffle and much more. To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance

T. Jordan Carpentry & Joinery Made to Measure Quality Timber Products Doors, Windows, Stairs, Gates, Cabinets & Mouldings

Please call Tim on 01462 850363 22 Station Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow SG16 6JP

Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc. Interior and Exterior Work Free Quotations Call W Firkins & Partners Ltd 01462 814117 or 07939 267083 Est 1981 20 Clifton Road, Shefford, Beds

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TV AERIAL & SATELLITE SPECIALIST See our website for a comprehensive list of our services www.allbandaerials.co.uk

CALL FREE 0800 7317988 To discuss your requirements or to make an appointment

ALLBAND AERIALS

22 Bedford Road Lower Stondon, Beds SG16 6EA

J W A Building & Maintenance

• Extensions • Carpentry • Kitchens • Plastering • Brickwork • Domestic

• Patios • Plumbing • Decking • Painting • Tiling • Commercial

• Driveways • Electrics • Roofing • Decorating • Bathrooms • Refurbishments

Tel: 01462 735565 Mob: 07866 528411 info@jwa-building and maintenance.co.uk jwa-buildingandmaintenance.co.uk 14 Glebe Avenue, Arlesey, Bedfordshire SG15 6UP To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

Top ten reasons

for looking after your grandchildren Top ten reasons for looking after your grandchildren - apart from loving them, of course! 1. All your recollections will be new to them and they’ll grow to enjoy them more through repetition. 2. You can dish the dirt on how their own mum or dad behaved as children. Embarrassing photos, anyone? 3. You may feel like a free baby-sitter, but it’s better than having to lend the money for childcare. And by lend, I mean give. 4. Spoil them a little and there’s a prospect of a better Christmas present than hankies, scented soap or socks. 5 You can play computer games without having to buy them. You may also convince them to leave a games console behind, for practice. 6. You can show the grandkids what real food is like, unless you fancy an excuse for the occasional burger and chips.

Business gone slow? Let us help!

7. You can teach your grandkids the ‘tidying up’ game, thus saving on the cost of a cleaner. This also works with the ‘car washing’ game and the ‘gardening game’, but use sparingly! 8. You’ll have lots of exercise without having to join a gym. 9. You can outshine that other set of grandparents. 10. Your own children will owe you. Bonus 11. You might get a free holiday out of it! Book-keeping

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

01462 732632

Advertising in The Villager is easy. To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com 62

sales@steam2clean.co.uk www.steam2clean.co.uk

C A r p E T A N D u p h O l s T E rY C l E A N I N g Drying time kept to a minimum Flea & Dustmite control available 24 Years’ Experience Fully Insured NO VAT for a limited period

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09/12/2010

16:41

C l as s i f i e d s Chimney Sweep

Chimney Sweep Sweeping Certificate Issued ICS Registered Please call Brian on 07968 275888 sweepmychimneynow@gmail.com Cleaning Services

E.C.S

ELITE CLEANING SERVICES We are a all aspect Cleaning Company: • Office Cleaning • Long or Short Term Contract Work • • Build Cleans • End of Tenancy Cleans • • Full Mobile Car Valet Service - with Auto Glym Staff Window Cleaning • • Regular Home Cleaning Service

Massage

Natalie Barnard BSc. Hon. Sport & Exercise Science

Diploma Advanced Deep Tissue Massage

Specialist in Remedial Massage for: • • • • •

Stress related tension Pre and post competition treatments Sports injuries Neck/back complaints International athlete clientele

By appointment Mob: 07989 863693 www.supple-flex.co.uk

Plastering

James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding

T: 01462 816147 M. 07500 874812 e: elitecleaningservices@live.co.uk • www.theelitevaletcentre.co.uk

Tel: 07792 415356 or 01767 317161 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk

Fully Trained & Uniformed Staff • Family Run Company for 10 years

Decorators

DMR DECORATORS FOR INTERIOR & EXTERIOR DECORATING SERVICES C O N TA C T D A V E :

T: M:

01763 250 865 07775 667 370

Logs & Kindling

Property Maintenance

R. CHAPMAN

Home & Garden Services

Patio’s Driveways Fencing Brickwork Painting & Decorating Tiling 20 Years Experience - No Job Too Small!

01462 850575 or 07950 311881

Sewing Services

Christmas is all wrapped up with...

Gallery 1066 To celebrate the festive season we warmly invite you into the gallery for wine, mince pies and most importantly inspiration, every weekend in December.

CARL PAYNE

With Original paintings, Collectable Limited Editions, Sculptures, Collectable Art Books and stylish Gift Sets we can offer everything from a corporate gift to the ultimate personal present for a friend or loved one.

DOUG HYDE

open tuesday - saturday 10am - 6pm & sunday 11am - 4pm

Willow Mews 6a Hitchin Street Baldock Herts SG7 6AE tel : 01462 622233 www.gallery1066fineart.com