Villager Henlow July 12 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 44 - July 2012

and Town Life

ÂŁ25

Prize Crossword See Inside

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

ur Yo EE FRcopy

Champneys Henlow presents an evening with Style Heaven Wednesday 18th July 2012 from 6 pm – 8.30 pm The evening includes Wine and Canapés on arrival at 6 pm. Style Heaven Workshop 6.15 pm. – 8.30 pm. Need some magic Gok Wan Style? Fed up with your clothes but money is tight? Learn how to recession-proof your wardrobe; see how to create four looks from one dress, styling demos and how to do it yourself. Come on girls, bring a friend and get fabulous style.

www.champneys.com 2

Tickets are £15 per person. Please contact Sandra Jeram on 01462 810707, or email sandra.jeram@champneys.com Limited places available. Champneys Resorts

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

@Champneys

In this Issue

VILLAGER

Issue 44 - July 2012

The

and Town Life

£25

Prize Crossword See Inside

The White Horse Broom

ur Yo EE Rcopy

Alliance Foster Care

A True Story

Editorial

Melanie Hulsem Solange Hando, Leon F. Jones, Helen Taylor, Geoff Wharton, Rita Williams-Hall, Anne O’Brien, Katharine Sorell, Alex Brown, Ted Bruning, James Baggott, Debbie SinghBhatti and Pippa Greenwood

Advertising Sales Nigel Frost nigel@villagermag.com

Front Cover Image Elena Elisseeva

Design and Artwork Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers

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

VILLAGER The

and Town Life

Disclaimer

All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

Prize Crossword £25 Up For Grabs!

The History of The Olympics........................................................ 4 Barbeques.................................................................................... 12 How Going Green Can Make You Money...................................15 Costa Rica................................................................................... 20 Inventions - Paper.......................................................................22 Make Up Masterclass................................................................. 24 Fun Quiz...................................................................................... 28 Wordsearch.................................................................................31 On Your Bike............................................................................... 32 Safety In The Home.................................................................... 35 Best Holiday Tech....................................................................... 37 What Is Lasting Power Of Attorney.......................................... 38 Dry Weather Gardening............................................................. 42 Rural Ramblings......................................................................... 45 Animal Know How......................................................................46 Children’s Page...........................................................................49 Making The Most of a Staycation.............................................. 50 Peugeot 208............................................................................... 52 Seasonal Delights....................................................................... 54 Are You Secure?.......................................................................... 57 A Picture Paints a Thousand Words.......................................... 59 Lofty Ideas.................................................................................. 62 Puzzle Page................................................................................64 Office Politics..............................................................................66 What’s Your Sport......................................................................68 What’s On................................................................................... 70 Best Foot Forward......................................................................72 Just Add Water........................................................................... 77 Don’t Forget Fido....................................................................... 78

You are now able to view the Villager Magazine online at

www.villagermag.com

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

The History of the Olympics

BY MELANIE Hulse

Sometimes it feels as if this country has gone mad – if it’s not world cup fever then it’s a royal jubilee, Wimbledon or ‘the golf’ that occupy the minds, hearts and televisions of most families. However, this year is set to see something else altogether when the 2012 Olympic Games will be staged in London. But when and how did the Olympic Games being and who has taken part? The ancient Olympics were rather different to the modern games. There were far fewer events and from the fifth and forth centuries only Greek speaking men (no women) were allowed to take part. According to once source ‘The games started in Olympia, Greece, near the towns of Elis and Pisa (both in Elis on the peninsula of Peloponnesos). The first Games began as an annual foot race of young women in competition for the position of the priestess for the goddess, Hera and a second race was instituted for a consort for the priestess who would participate in the religious traditions at the temple.’ The Heraea Games, the first recorded competition for women in the Olympic Stadium, were held as early as the sixth century BC. It originally consisted of foot races only, as did the competition for males. There were criteria for entering the games and before they began there were many rituals held, one of which was that each competitor had to stand before a statue of the god Zeus and swear that they had completed at least ten months of training. The earliest Olympic Games for men that we have a written record about were in the year 776 BCE. It is generally accepted that the games

had been taking place for many years before this time however. At this first recorded games, the sole event was the stade, or running race where naked competitors ran for the length of the stadium which was about 192 metres. The winner in the year 776 BCE was cook named Coroebus – the first Olympic champion in history! To the Greeks it was important to root the Olympic Games in religion and mythology. During the time of the ancient Games their origins were attributed to the gods, and various legends persisted as to who actually was responsible for the Games’ beginnings. These origins of traditions have become almost impossible to untangle, but certain chronology and patterns have arisen that help people understand the story behind the Games. According to one source ‘The earliest myths regarding the origin of the Games are recounted by the Greek historian, Pausanias. According to the story, the dactyl Herakles and two of his brothers raced at Olympia. He crowned the victor with a laurel wreath, which

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

explains the traditional prize given to Olympic champions.The other Olympian gods (so named because they lived on Mount Olympus), would also engage in wrestling, jumping and running contests. Another, later myth, is attributed to Pindar. He claims the festival at Olympia involved Pelops, king of Olympia and eponymous hero of the Peloponnesus, and Herakles, the son of Zeus. The story goes that after completing his labors, Herakles established an athletic festival to honor his father. Pelops, using trickery, and the help of Poseidon, won a chariot race against a local king and claimed the king’s daughter, Hippodamia as his prize. A final myth, also attributed to Pausanias is dated by the historian at 776 BC. For some reason the Games of previous millennia were discontinued and then revived by Lycurgus of Sparta, Iphitos of Elis, and Cleoisthenes of Pisa at the behest of the Oracle of Delphi who claimed that the people had strayed from the gods, which had caused a plague and constant war. Restoration of the Games would end the plague, usher in a time of peace, and signal a return to a more traditional lifestyle. The patterns that emerge from these myths are that the Greeks believed the Games had their roots in religion, that athletic competition was tied to worship of the gods, and the revival of the ancient Games was intended to bring peace, harmony and a return to the origins of Greek life. Since these myths were documented by historians like

Pausanias, who lived during the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 160s AD, it is likely that these stories are more fable than fact.’ The tradition of the ancient Olympic games grew over the years and we do know that the games were played every four years for nearly 1,200 years. Only the young were allowed to take part and as time passed more and more events and competitions were added to the program. In 724 for example the diaulos or two-stade race was begun. This was race of one lap of the stadium which would have been about 400 metres in length. Later, in about 520 BCE the hoplitodromos or Hoplite Race was introduced. This race emulated the endurance, speed and stamina needed for warfare as the contestants had to run a diaulos wearing full or partial armour which weighed between 50 and 60lb, carrying a shield and wearing greaves or a helmet. More various events were added – boxing, wrestling and pankration which was a mixture of different martial arts disciplines, chariot racing, and stadion – long jump, javelin throw and discus throwing which were linked competitions and not separate events. The Olympics were as much a religious event as a games. They were held in honor and worship of the god Zeus. On the middle day of the games 100 oxen were killed in sacrifice. As years passed, the geographical site of the games, Olympia, became a centre of worship for the Greek gods

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Curtain & Blinds Specialists

Gallery

Stockists of the following: HARLEQUIN, SANDERSONS, WILLIAM MORRIS, ROMO, JANE CHURCHILL, DESIGNERS GUILD, ZOFFANY, COLEFAX & FOWLER AND VILLA NOVA. • MADE TO MEASURE CURTAINS • AWNINGS • READYMADE CURTAINS

• BLINDS • WALLPAPER • TRACKS & POLES

• SHUTTERS • RE-UPHOLSTERY • AND MUCH MUCH MORE

FREE HOME MEASURING AND DESIGN SERVICE 16-17 Market Place, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1DS - Tel: 01462 455959

www.gilroyinteriors.com Open: Monday - Saturday 9.30am - 5.30pm

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

or pantheon and a huge doric temple built by the Greek architect Libon was erected on the mountaintop site. A gold and ivory statue of the god Zeus was placed on a throne in the temple. This later became on of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Artistic expression was a major part of the Games. Sculptors, poets and other artisans would come to the Games to show off their works in what became a kind of artistic competition. Sculptors created works like Myron’s Diskobolos or Discus Thrower. Their aim was to highlight natural human movement and the shape of muscles and the body. Poets would be commissioned to write prose in honor of the Olympic victors. These poems, known as Epinicians, were passed on from generation to generation. On the final day of the Olympic Games there was a huge banquet. This involved the consumption of the 100 oxen which had been sacrificed to Zeus previously. The winners of the events were presented an olive branch or wreath and were received as guests with much honour throughout Greece, especially in their home towns, where they was often granted large sums of money (in Athens, 500 drachma, a small fortune at those times) and prizes including vats of olive oil. The Olympic Games reached their zenith in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, but then gradually declined in importance as the Romans gained power and influence in Greece. There is no agreed date when the Games officially ended, but the most common-held year is 393 AD, when the emperor Theodosius I declared that all pagan cults and practices be eliminated. Another possible date is 426 AD, when his successor Theodosius II ordered the destruction of all Greek temples. The games were not held again until the late 19th century when there were several attempts, by several nations, to re-start the Olympic games as a sporting event.

A young Frenchmen named Pierre de Coubertin began their revival in France and Coubertin is now known as le Rénovateur. Coubertin was a French aristocrat born on January 1, 1863. He was only seven years old when France was overrun by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Some believe that Coubertin attributed the defeat of France not to its military skills but rather to the French soldiers’ lack of vigor and, after examining the education of the German, British, and American children, Coubertin decided that it was exercise, more specifically sports, that made a well-rounded and vigorous person. Coubertin’s attempt to get France interested in sports was not met with enthusiasm. Still, Coubertin persisted. In 1890, he organized and founded a sports organization, Union des Sociétés Francaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA) and two years later, Coubertin organized a meeting with 79 delegates who represented nine countries. At this meeting, Coubertin spoke of the revival of the Olympic Games and this time, Coubertin aroused interest. The delegates at the conference voted unanimously for the revival of the Olympic Games. The delegates also decided to have Coubertin construct an international committee to organize the Games. This committee became the International Olympic Committee (IOC; Comité Internationale Olympique) and Demetrious Vikelas from Greece was selected to be its first president. Athens was chosen as the location for the revival of the Olympic Games and the planning was begun. The games have since grown from their relatively unobtrusive beginnings to an international competition involving 10,500 competitors from 204 countries around the whole world! There have been many, many winners in modern times from Great Britain as well as other countries in Europe. Familiar winning names include Mary Peters – gold medallist in the 1972 Munich Olympic games for Pentathlon; David Hemery winner of several medals most notably the gold medal for 400m Hurdles at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics; The Right Honorable Sebastian Coe KBE winner of several medals at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games: Sir Steve Redgrave winner of gold medals for Men’s Rowing at the 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and Sir Christopher Hoy winner of gold medals for Track Cycling at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. In modern times the winners of the Olympic games are awarded far more than olive leaves

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

but the last series of Olympic medals to be made of solid gold were awarded at the 1912 Olympic games in Sweden. Nowadays Olympic Gold medals are required to be made from at least 92.5% silver, and must be plated with a minimum of 6 grams of gold. All Olympic medals have to be at least 60mm in diameter and 3mm thick. Minting the medals is the responsibility of the Olympic host country. From 1928 through 1968 the design was always the same: the obverse showed a generic design by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli with text naming the host city; the reverse showed another generic design of an Olympic champion. From the 1972 Summer Olympics through 2000 however, Cassioli’s design (or a slight modification) remained on the obverse with a custom design by the host city on the reverse. Noting that Cassioli’s design showed a Roman amphitheater for what originally were Greek games, a new obverse design was commissioned for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. For the 2008 Beijing Olympics medals had a diameter of 70mm and were 6mm thick, with the front displaying a winged figure of victory and the back showed a Beijing Olympics symbol surrounded by an inset jade circle.

The winners of Olympic events do not receive any other prizes from the International Olympic Committee. The country that they come from may offer them cash prizes however, and they are usually offered sponsorship by companies who are willing to pay them a great deal of money if they win any of the events. There are many young athletes ready and eager to compete in this year’s Olympic Games. Find out who will be there by looking at www. teamgb.com

The Handy Household - Aluminium Foil

Aluminium foil is commonly referred to as tin foil because the original product manufactured back in the early twentieth century was actually made of tin, but all the ‘tin foil’ you buy these days is now aluminium. A staple of the kitchen for over 100 years then, but it has many other uses around the home. Soften brown sugar by wrapping it in foil and putting it in a medium oven for around 5 minutes. Your dog or cat will dislike the feeling and sound of foil, so lay a sheet over your chairs and sofas and within a few days they’ll learn not to jump up. Likewise cover table and chair legs and this will put them off using the legs as a scratching post. Increase the effectiveness of your ironing board by laying a sheet under the cover. The foil will reflect the heat back meaning you can iron on a lower setting. The same principle applies if you put foil behind your room radiators. If you have a tray of ice cubes in the freezer, cover it with foil and this will ensure the ice stays clean and doesn’t pick up odours from other food. If you are having your carpet cleaned you may not be able to move the larger furniture out of the room. Squares of foil under the legs will protect the furniture and won’t stain the damp carpet. Extend the life of your scissors by cutting through several layers of foil to sharpen them.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

78160 93x131 The Villager_Layout 1 08/06/2012 15:49 Page 1

Could there be more in your life? We have a shortage of foster carers.

ver are o There looked 1,200 children , n after rthampto in No rdshire shire Bedfo ambridge C d an

Be fos come an ter c a a r d ma arer dif eal ke a c feren hil dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ce to life Tel: 0808 1680 180 www.alliancefostercare.co.uk

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

BARBEQUES

July

Americans – aren’t they a mad bunch, though? They come across like hysterical babies, screaming uncontrollably if they don’t get exactly what they want exactly when they want it, and threatening all kinds of horrible vengeance on anyone who might deny or even delay their instant gratification. Unfortunately, though, you can’t just ignore them as you might a real baby, because they’re big, powerful, and extremely heavily armed. Of course, they can’t really be the way they’re portrayed in our media, because if they were they’d all have killed each other by now. And anyway, I’ve met quite a few Americans and some of them are almost civilised. But that would be far too boring to show on TV or in newspapers. So, hysterical babies it is, then. One thing babies can do is eat. And like babies, Americans are world-class eaters. They eat 28% of the food the world produces even though they only make up 5% of the world’s population. So let’s help them celebrate Independence Day on 4th July by eating American. July is pretty hot in the USA so Independence

Day tends to be an outdoor event. The USA is challenged for the title of World’s Top Barbecue Nation only by South Africa and Australia, with which it shares reliable summer weather, high per capita income, and a gargantuan appetite for protein. So, this 4th July take the wire brush to the barbecue, fire up the charcoal (or gas), and throw on a steak. Or sausages. Or ribs. Or burgers. Or a piece of chicken which you can microwave first if you’re nervous. But before you cook it, make it truly American by slathering it with the following simple barbecue sauce. Fry finely chopped onions on a medium heat until golden brown. Add minced garlic and chopped and seeded chillis (optional) and fry for another minute. Add tomato puree, Worcester sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper, and either some jam or jelly (redcurrant or apricot) or, if you’re not using chillis, some sweet chilli sauce. Fry on a medium heat for another 10 minutes and you’ll end up with a sauce that’s full of complex flavours – sweet, sour, hot and deep. Use some of the sauce as a marinade and some for pouring over, but keep them separate to avoid cross-contamination. The crowning glory of your American barbecue is gumbo. The heart of gumbo is a roux made deep and dark by long cooking, so in a heavy-bottomed saucepan heat some oil, then add an equal quantity of sifted flour (you don’t want lumps) and stir for 10-15 minutes or until it darkens. Add chopped onion, green pepper, celery, minced garlic and thick slices of smoked sausage. Cook for 5 minutes, season, and add file powder (dried sassafras leaves) if you can find it, dried sage if you can’t. Add bay leaves and a litre of chicken stock, bring to the boil, then turn it down and simmer for approximately 30 minutes. Add a skinned, boned, and shredded roast chicken (cooked the day before) and king prawns (optional) and simmer slowly for another hour, topping up with stock if necessary (a gumbo is a soup, not a stew, so it needs to be liquid). Serve with brown rice. And to drink? Californian wine, of course, but also a genuine imported American beer. Not Budweiser or Coors because they are now brewed in Britain: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is, I think, the most widely available import – and it’s delicious!

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Is your old dentistry falling apart? Do you have loose or cracking teeth? Are your gums mysteriously receeding? What about Chronic Headaches? Did you know bite disorders & jaw joint problems are a major cause! Dr Raj Ahlowalia is a recognised expert in Complex Dentistry, Jaw & Bite Disorders, Temporo - Mandibular Joint Dysfunctions & Aesthetic Implant Restorative Dentistry. If you’re suffering from odd headaches or facial pain, you’d love for a nicer smile or an alternative to loose dentures or old & worn out dentistry consider calling for a FREE* consultation with Dr Raj Ahlowalia. Also check our website for more information on the impact of bite and jaw disorders.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY & FACIAL AESTHETICS

- WHITENING - VENEERS - TOOTH COLOURED BRACES

RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

- SAME DAY CROWNS - DENTAL IMPLANTOLOGY

FUNCTIONAL DENTISTRY

- BITE - JAW JOINT - PAIN & HEADACHE THERAPY

Now offering the amazing 6-Month-SmilesTM Rapid Clear Braces system for stunning straight teeth in just months! Present this voucher for a free* consultation with Dr Raj Ahlowalia. *Strictly one voucher offer per person. Voucher expires Sept 1st 2012. Free consultations do not include comprehensive examinations or x-rays.

Call or e-mail today 01767 313896

victoriaplacedental@gmail.com

3 Victoria Place, Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9RN www.victoriaplacedental.com

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

RHYTHM FESTIVALS 2012 RHYTHM FESTIVAL • RHYTHM FOLK • RHYTHM & BLUES AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND – FRIDAY 24 to SUNDAY 26 Mansion House @ Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire, SG18 9DX 3 Great Music Festivals for the Price of One

HAWKWIND | THE

FRIDAY

SLACKERS | THE BEAT

EDDIE & THE HOT RODS • 3 BONZOS & A PIANO • MEN THEY COULDN’T HANG + more SATURDAY

BOOKER T | THE DAMNED | ARDAL O’HANLON DENNIS ALCAPONE | KING MOB HANK WANGFORD & THE LOST COWBOYS • CAPTAIN SENSIBLE BAND • THE GROUNDHOGS • HERE & NOW • THE MAGIC TOMBOLINOS • LEATHERAT + more SUNDAY

KEN BOOTHE | JOHN COOPER CLARKE | CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN | DAVID RODIGAN BOOMTOWN RATS • JOHN OTWAY BIG BAND • DELROY WILLIAMS & THE JUNCTION BAND • ATILLA THE STOCKBROKER • KING HAMMOND + more FRIDAY

FRIDAY

JAMIE SMITH’S MABON • LUCY WARD SATURDAY

BUICK 6 • MITCH LADDIE BAND JERRY TREMAINE & THE RISING SONS SATURDAY

PEATBOG FAERIES

DAVID KNOPFLER THE TRAVELLING BAND IAN MCMILLAN ORCHESTRA RICHARD DIGANCE • WISHING WELL SUNDAY

SHOW OF HANDS featuring MIRANDA SYKES

LAU• SCOTT MATTHEWS MOULETTES • KATRIONA GILMORE & JAMIE ROBERTS + more every day!

THE BLUES BAND BIG BOY BLOATER

DAVE KELLY • CHANTEL McGREGOR ROADHOUSE • LUCY ZIRINS SUNDAY

OLI BROWN BAND HAT FITZ & CARA

RHYTHM & BLUES

RHYTHM FOLK

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS WILKO JOHNSON JIM MORAY & BAND GENO WASHINGTON

MICHAEL MESSER 2nd MIND BAND CROSSTOWN LIGHTNIN • CHERRY LEE MEWIS • more every day!

3 festivals offering 3 days of great entertainment on 6 stages plus “fringe” events. Comedy. Theatre. Madam Miaow’s Culture Lounge. Children’s Entertainment, including Panic Circus, Organised Football & Junior Olympics. Hemlock Morris. Groovy Movie Picture House. DJ Wheelie-Bag. Real Ales & Ciders. A Wide Choice of Superior Food plus Farmhouse Ice Cream. General Store. Markets. Supervised Campsites. Luxury Loos. Hot Showers. Free Car Parking. Further details and tickets from:

www.rhythmfestival.com

Please mention villager_2012_110512.indd 1

The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts11/05/2012

08:12

How Going Green

Can Make You Money! Having solar PV panels on your roof is a great idea – it not only saves CO2 and gives you electricity you can use in the home, but it also makes perfect financial sense. The recent lowering of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) has been matched by lower costs for PV systems, so the returns on investment in a PV system are still excellent. All solar PV systems consist of three main components: the mounting system, the panels and the inverter. The mounting system fixes the panels to the roof (or to the ground). The panels transform solar energy, even on dull days, into free electricity. The inverter converts the electricity from DC to AC current, which can be used in the home and supplied to the grid. The Feed-in-Tariff guarantees the owner of a PV system a tax free, inflation-adjusted price for every Kilowatt of electricity their system produces, whether or not it is used in the home. It is guaranteed for 25 years (is reduced to 20 years from 1 August 2012). Until 1 August 2012 the tariff rate for up to 4kW PV systems is 21p – thereafter it drops to 16p. All installations now need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) showing a grade D or above to register for the Feed-in Tariff and receive the 21p rate. Estimates show that investment in a 4 kWp system can have a payback time as low as 8 years, annual income of around £800, net payout over 25 years of up to £25,000 and a rate of return of around 15.4%. Upbeat Energy Ltd. is a local specialist in Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems. Since November 2012, Upbeat Energy has installed over 200 domestic and 10 commercial systems with more than 1,500 kWp generation power. With its in-house experts, the company not only offers solar systems

but also battery storage, system monitoring, voltage optimization and energy efficient lighting solutions. As a certified company, Upbeat Energy Ltd. complies with the nationally recognised industry standards (MCS, REAL, REIGA). If you are interested in solar PV, contact Upbeat Energy. They will arrange for a free, no-obligation site survey to assess whether your property is suitable for PV panels. Your requirements will be discussed and an individual quotation sent to you. On acceptance, the EPC will be arranged and if all is satisfactory, the installation will go ahead. This normally takes about a day, with the scaffolding arriving beforehand. After the system is commissioned, Upbeat helps you through the process of applying for the Feed-in Tariff with your chosen supplier, and sets up a free monitoring device so you can watch your panels performing. Lastly, they provide you with all the necessary documentation, guarantees and warranties, and an excellent aftercare service. If you are interested or want to know more, phone Upbeat Energy on 01223 581504 or go to www. upbeat-energy.co.uk

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

www.spitfiretravel.com The Shefford based Travel Agent. We offer: Tailor Made Holidays, Flights Only, Accommodation only, Weekend Breaks Cruise and Honeymoon Destinations and much more. Call our friendly team on

01462 850 489

or email: spitfiretravel@gmail.com

Book for Orlando now for 2014. *We will guarantee the price until 2014. Applies to Virgin Atlantic flights to Orlando Only, Travel by 30th April 2014. Deposit: ÂŁ200 per person *All prices guaranteed except fuel, currency and govenment surcharges.

Tr a v e l i s 1 0 0 % P r o t e c t e d

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

The White Horse – Broom

BY MELANIE HULSE

The White Horse at Broom brings back some fond memories for me, so you may be able to imagine my happiness when my visit today found the old place looking clean and loved and welcoming once more. I met new landlord and lady, Charles and Sam Biswell for a chat and to discover their plans for The White Horse. ‘Our background is in catering for large functions – weddings, corporate events, office parties, special birthday parties.’ Sam explains. ‘We saw the opportunity to take on The White Horse and we fell in love with the pub, the village and the area, we could see the potential here to make a difference to local people and provide a place with great food, an outdoor space which is perfect for families and an atmospheric bar just right for a local pint.’

‘My father was in catering and I have been a chef all my working life.’ Charles joins in. ‘Three of our sons are currently completing their chef training too and have a real talent with food, so they are making a great contribution to the running of the kitchen here. The whole family is involved and we are really excited about the plans we have made.’ Sam continues, ‘The pub itself is at least 18th Century and the bar areas are really atmospheric with the big inglenook fireplaces and beamed ceilings. We welcome anyone in for a drink and have cask ales as well as lagers on tap and all the usual spirits and soft drinks. We are planning a really tempting bar meals menu with tapas as well as traditional bar snacks too. ‘We have worked hard on tidying up not only the inside of the pub, but the immediate outdoor seating area too and it now has a pretty, Mediterranean feel with the pots of herbs and bright geraniums. We’re contemplating putting a pizza oven out here and having Italian evenings where families can enjoy the warmer weather along with a freshly cooked pizza, a delicious continental salad and a lovely, cold glass of white wine. ‘We are intending to make better use of the lawn with some more children’s play equipment and a petanque piste too. We really want to welcome

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

families and have ensured that our menus cater for every taste and appetite by offering the opportunity to have a child-sized portion of any dish at half the price as well as the regular children’s choices.’ ‘We have some other themed evenings in mind,’ enthuses Charles ‘and I am intending the menu to carry first class steaks – locally sourced of course, as well as some brilliant and innovative dishes that will make sure that eating at The White Horse is an unforgettable experience. We are completely committed to sourcing all of our meat and vegetables as locally as possible and everything on our menu is always freshly cooked with real care and attention to detail. I feel strongly that vegetarians need to eat as well as anyone else and so we are determined to create some real vegetarian masterpieces, delicious food with every kindness! ‘With our background – running a successful catering company since 1998, we are keen to host larger functions here at The White Horse. We have facilities to seat 70 outside or under a marquee in case of bad weather, and the rear lawn would easily hold a marquee with seating

for 200. We are happy to offer our catering expertise and experience to anyone to make their function – wedding, anniversary or birthday, that extra special and memorable occasion. So, whether you would like to bask in the sunshine among pots of lavender and thyme in true Mediterranean style with a pint of San Miguel and some delicious tapas; enjoy a few hours at the traditional bar of a local country pub, sampling cask ales and a freshly prepared, home baked, locally sourced gammon steak or sit down with all your family and friends at the party of your lifetime, The White Horse in Broom is the place for you. Why not drop in to meet the Biswell family and find out for yourself?

Dine at The White Horse and enjoy a two course set menu for just £9.95

The White Horse

30 Southill Road, Broom, SG18 9NN Tel: 01767 313425 Website: www.whitehorsebroom.co.uk Email: info@charlesbiswellcatering.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

Costa Rica - Natural World

BY SOLANGE HANDO

At the heart of Central America, Costa Rica has set aside 30% of its land for conservation, a higher percentage than any other nation. Framed by the Caribbean to the north and the Pacific to the south, barely the size of England, this little gem of a place claims over 180 nature reserves, including 32 national parks. Businessmen, farmers or government ministers, all agree that preserving the natural world is more important than financial gain. Eco-tourism is thriving and hotels are rated according to their green policy. Officially, this is the happiest country on earth. So from beaches or coastal wetlands to volcanic peaks, from rainforest and jungle to montane cloud forests, Costa Rica is home to an enticing variety of flora and fauna, among them rare specimens and more types of butterflies than in the whole of Africa. Over 800 species of birds have been recorded, mostly residents, while mammals include giant anteaters, jaguars and vampire bats. For the brave, there are thrilling skywalks right up in the treetops, along suspended walkways. One of the easiest national parks to explore is Carara on the south coast where cicadas sing in the raintrees and butterflies the size of your hand flutter, vivid blue, along the stream. There are pale-billed woodpeckers, boar, striped tiger ants and lizards which can run on water. Wild lilies and hibiscus splash colour along the jungle trails and now and then, a pair of red macaws takes flight as spider monkeys swing on their long dangling limbs to claim the sweet blossom of a flame tree. On the outskirts of Carara, crocodiles bask on the muddy banks of the Tarcoles river, while toucans with rainbow-coloured bills land in the treetops. Sunsets over the estuary are spectacular with hundreds of egrets coming to roost in the mangrove and howler monkeys gathering their troops for the night. A fair drive south, Manuel Antonio is the smallest of the national parks but boasts a rich biodiversity on both land and sea. Trails lead around the rugged peninsula and along pure white sands fringed with turquoise waters. There are offshore islands, racoons and iguanas and white-faced Capuchin monkeys draped on low branches. On the Caribbean coast, the remote Tortuguero National Park covers the nesting sites of green

and other turtles and a maze of canals, deltas and lagoons where water fowl and otters live in peaceful surroundings. From palms to lagoons and swamps, the park preserves 11 life zones and access is only by boat. For Costa Ricans, respect for the natural world is unconditional and that includes the awesome volcanoes in the central highlands. Most iconic is Arenal, rising to over 5000 feet, which in May 1998 managed 23 eruptions in a single day. Now, it is dormant, its funnel top lost in the clouds or mirrored in the lake, surrounded by lush scenery and hot springs gushing out from the lower slopes. Towering above the capital of San JosĂŠ are Irazu, the highest volcano at 11,200 feet, and Poas which claims the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest active crater, 0.9 miles across and 900 feet deep. Drifting in and out of the mist, belching out fumes from the green lagoon, it showers the forest with acid rain. There are four habitats in its national park, including a unique dwarf forest where ramblers might spot the yellow-green squirrel found nowhere else in the world.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

The Unforgettable Close Up and Cabaret Magic of Steve Dean Immerse yourselves and guests in the close up magic of Steve Dean or enjoy a Cabaret Show that includes mentalism and much more. Have you ever witnessed unexplainable events or illusions so convincing that they leave you fascinated and completely spellbound? This is Cabaret, close up mix and mingle and table magic at itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very best. Not only enter the unbelievable world of close up professional magic that is second to none, you can now see a cabaret show that will leave you gasping, your guests enthralled and audience participation that is not only professional but will cause laughter throughout and will be something to remember for a very long time. This is ideal for any corporate or private event. Steve is a master of his craft and a member of the prestigious Magic Circle. He has had many letters of thanks and testimonials from people from all walks of life. From a small dinner party to performing on a British Cruise Liner this sort of entertainment is second to none and will give your guests unusual and fantastic entertainment that they can get involved in and will talk about for months to come. (Steve is a member of Equity with full public liability insurance). Please phone or email for details

07719 261147 â&#x20AC;˘ 01767 260671 www.stevedeanmagic.co.uk email: stevedeanmagic@aol.com

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

INVENTIONS - PAPER

By Leon F. Jones

This month’s invention is literally right in front of us – paper. The credit for its invention goes to that amazing country China. Some 2000 years ago, Cai Lun, an Imperial Court official, created a sheet of paper suitable for writing by mashing, pressing and drying mulberry and other bast fibres mixed with old rags, fishnets and hemp waste. However, even earlier uses of paper in China have been found, the oldest being a map found at Fangmatan dating from 179-141 BC. Papermaking spread slowly from China as they were reluctant to share its secret. A legend tells that after the defeat of the Chinese in the battle of Talas (751AD) in present-day Kyrgyzstan, two Chinese prisoners bought their lives by revealing paper making secrets, leading to the first Islamic paper mill in Samarkand. The Muslim world quickly improved the process, using water power and trip hammers to replace the manual pounding of the materials.

In Europe, the oldest known paper document is the Mozarab Missal of Silos, dating from the 11th century. European paper production has been recorded in Spain in 1151, Italy in 1276 and Germany in 1320 with a mill established at Nuremburg in 1390. Due to their noise and smell they were required by medieval law to be erected outside of a city’s perimeter! The first English paper mill was established in 1490 near Stevenage, but the first commercially successful mill was established by John Spitman near Dartford in 1588 using German expertise (no doubt patronised by William Shakespeare!) Thanks to the Chinese we have the materials to produce our magazine and you have the pleasure After of reading it! Thank you, Cai Lun!

£50 OFF

EyeLT range lenses*

Up to 40% better vision in the near range

Rodenstock Impression® progressive lenses with the new Eye Lens Technology

Available now at your local branch when purchasing complete spectacles.

*Terms and conditions apply, please ask in store for details.

See better. Look perfect. Biggleswade 6 Hitchin St 01767 313258 22

www.alldersopticians.com

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Gallery 1066, Hertfordshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stylish Art Gallery... just got bigger & better! We have now doubled the size of the gallery to bring you even more fabulous art from acclaimed award winning artists from around the world, including the latest releases from the very best contemporary artists and exciting new signings.

Nestled in a cobbled mews in the picturesque town of Baldock, this 5000 sq ft Gallery is fast becoming the leading arts destination in Hertfordshire offering fabulous works to suit every taste and pocket whilst offering affordable investment to admire and enjoy. Brighten your day and take a visit to this beautiful gallery, where their team are on hand to help and guide from the first time buyer to the connoisseur â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there is an array of collectable signed limited editions, originals, sculptures and gift sets including the much loved and legendary Rolf Harris. A warm welcome and complimentary glass of wine awaits! Danielle O'Connor Akiyama

open wednesday - saturday 10am - 6pm, private viewings available

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

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

Make-up Masterclass

By Helen Taylor

If you love fashion then you’ll constantly update your wardrobe to keep ahead in the style stakes and on track with the latest trends, but when did you last update your make-up look? If you step outside of your cosmetic comfort zone, you might just be thrilled with the results. Finding The Perfect Base To find the perfect foundation, consider your skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, combination or ageing skin, there’s a product available that’s been specially formulated for you. If you’re lucky enough to have a clear complexion, don’t hide it under layers of heavy make-up. Choose a tinted moisturiser that will give a touch of colour and simply enhance your natural skin tone. However if you do have imperfections to hide, a full coverage foundation will do the job. Don’t be tempted to apply too much product because it can result in an unnatural finish, so simply cover the areas that need it most with a lighter covering for the rest of the face. Wearing too much foundation not only looks dated, but can be very ageing, so keep things light and fresh. Lighten Up Using a highlighter is a great way to fake a freshfaced look. The luminous, light reflecting liquid immediately lifts a dull complexion when applied carefully to the brow bones, cheekbones and bridge of your nose - areas where light naturally hits your skin. Use a small amount and blend thoroughly. A Touch Of Blush Warm up your face with a touch of colour. Whether you choose powder, cream or gel blusher, make sure the colour is right for you. Stick to neutral shades that add warmth and define the cheekbones and stay away from any shades that are unnatural. Shocking pink is dated and unflattering. Apply the product to the apples of your cheeks working gently upwards and outwards. The Eyes Have It For a modern eye make-up look, sweep a natural coloured shadow across the entire eye. Use a lighter shade on the brow bone and inner corners of the eyes and apply a darker shade to the sockets to add definition. Blend thoroughly to avoid harsh lines. Using an eyeliner, draw a line just above the lashes to add definition to the eye. Pencil liners provide a soft result whereas liquid liners are more intense.

Try flicking the liner up and out a little at the outer corners to create subtle, small flicks - it’s a great way to ‘lift’ the eye area. Swap black liner (and mascara) for brown - it’s much more flattering on older women. Try using a white eyeliner on the inner rim of your lower lashes. It enhances the eyes and creates a fresh, wide-eyed look. Eyelash curlers might look scary, but they are a must have beauty tool - always use before you apply a few coats of mascara. Don’t forget your eyebrows - keep them neatly groomed and set the shape by using a brow gel. Get Lippy Choose soft shades of glossy red and pink for a hint of colour on the lips. Use a primer before application to ensure longevity - if you don’t have one, foundation works well. A lip liner in a similar shade to your lipstick will help with definition, but use it very lightly and blend well to avoid any harsh lines - it shouldn’t be visible once your lipstick is on. Make your pout appear fuller by applying a dab of gloss to the centre of the lips for the ideal finish.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Bedfordshire Country Show Old Warden Park, SG18 9EA Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th July 2012 9.30am - 6.00pm

A greatt day ouhe for all tly fami

Arena Acts

Food Court

Craft Fair

www.bedfordshirecountyshow.co.uk 26

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Fun Quiz - Magazines and Newspapers 1. First published in 1953 and still running today, which magazine was originally intended to be called Stag Party? 2. Appearing regularly in The Sun, by what name is Margaret Anne Lake better known? 3. What is the main subject of the monthly magazine Empire? 4. Which fictional newspaper employed Spiderman’s alter-ego Peter Parker as a photographer? 5. Founded in 1922, which general interest magazine uses the winged horse Pegasus as it’s logo? 6. From August 3rd 2007, the Daily Express dedicated at least part of its next 100 front pages to which story? 7. Which of the Tweenies has the same name as a women’s weekly magazine? 8. In March 1986, which now-defunct newspaper became the first British daily newspaper to feature colour photographs? 9. Which Sunday newspaper publishes a “Rich List” each year, featuring a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people in the UK? 10. Which magazine was originally intended to have a name with two more letters that it has in its current name, the reason for the change being that people might have incorrectly thought it was a magazine about snooker? 1. Playboy 2. Mystic Meg 3. Films 4. The Daily Bugle 5. Readers Digest 6.The disappearance of Madeleine McCann 7. Bella 8. Today 9. The Sunday Time 10. Q (originally intended to be Cue)

Before

After

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Holiday Package:

Biosculpture Gel Nails & Gel Pedicure £45 Half Leg Bikini Wax & Eyelash Tint £20 Treat yourself to both of the above for £60 Luxury Pedicures Dermalogica Facials Massage & Body treatments Waxing, Hollywood & Brazilian Eye Treatments

8 Cherry Trees, Lower Stondon Beds, SG16 6DT e. faye@fayesbeautyhut.com www.fayesbeautyhut.com t. 07912 645310

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

On Your Bike!

Is the future two-wheeled? I don’t know about you, but I dread each visit to the fuel station at the moment because I never have a clue how much a litre of diesel is going to cost. I do wonder if running a vehicle will be an unaffordable luxury in a year or two’s time. But maybe I shouldn’t despair, perhaps there is a solution to at least some of our transport problems which, in addition to being fast, cheap and reliable, is also good for you and the environment! “On your bike,” I hear your sceptical retort - and you couldn’t be nearer the truth! Travel by bike does not require vehicle tax, an MOT, breakdown cover, or a visit to the fuel station. It is convenient and efficient, and usually avoids road works, traffic jams, vying for parking spaces and other road hazards that raise the blood pressure. It firms the thighs and buttocks, tones tummy muscles and increases the metabolic rate. Now if all that isn’t enough to make you jump up and don helmet and reflective armbands, I don’t know what will! So you’ve decided to join the biking brigade, but how do you go about choosing the right bike for you? First, decide on the type of cycling you intend doing. Will you be cycling as a means of

transport, or purely for recreation? Then choose your bike accordingly. Traditional bikes are a great low maintenance option for everyday use but tend to be a bit heavy. If you are willing to sacrifice comfort in favour of speed, then a racing bike may be the one for you, but perhaps the most popular and practical choice is a mountain or hybrid bike, with their strong frame, knobbly tyres and wide range of gears that cope well both off and on road. Before venturing out, make sure that both brakes work well, both tyres are pumped up and that the saddle is the correct height. Check that the handle bars are tightened, and be sure to wear light coloured or fluorescent clothing that won’t get tangled in the chain or wheels. Wearing a helmet, though advisable, is not required by law. Don’t cycle in too high a gear as this will tire you and keep at least a metre between you and the kerb. You aren’t allowed to cycle on the pavement, but you can use the bus lane if you need to. So, armed with all these hints, tips and facts, there’s nothing left for you to do now but get on your bike and save yourself a small fortune at the fuel station!

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

SAFETY IN THE HOME

AGE CONCERN

As you grow older, making sure your home is safe and secure gives you extra peace of mind. Even if you are fit and active, you may realise that at times you don’t have as much energy, find it harder to balance, or that your eyesight is not as good as it used to be. This is why it is so important that your home is a safe place to be so that you can minimise the risk of accidents, particularly if you live alone. Reducing risks Falls are the most common and serious type of accident for those over 65. Make sure every area of your home is free of floor clutter to reduce your chances of tripping. Make sure you have good lighting in each room so that you can see where you are going and wear flat, well-fitting shoes rather than loose-fitting slippers indoors. Keep active by taking keep fit or dance classes and walk when you can, rather than driving or taking the bus, to keep your muscles strong. Eating a healthy, balanced diet will also help you to maintain strength and stamina. It’s also a good idea to have regular health and eye checks.

Kitchen Bad burns to those over 65 can be fatal as the body finds it harder to fight infection. Scalds from boiling kettle water are very common. Other danger points are cookers and radiators. To reduce the risk, use a cordless kettle and only boil enough water for your immediate needs, such as a hot drink. Make sure you have space to put down hot pans and plates and try to use the back burners of the cooker to reduce the chance of spilling something over you. Living room Make sure carpets are well fitted and if you have any loose edges, ask a relative or handyman in to nail this down properly. It’s better to avoid small rugs if you can. Make sure you have things such as remotes and the telephone close to where you sit so you don’t have to keep getting up and down. Gas fires, boilers and heaters should be checked regularly by an expert. Hallway/stairs Again, make sure carpets are well-fitted, particularly on the stairs. Try not to leave things cluttering the stairs to reduce the risk of falling. Fitting a letter tray to the inside of your letterbox means you don’t have to keep bending down. Keep keys and your handbag well away from the front door. If you don’t already have one fitted, do install a smoke alarm - they are relatively cheap and could save your life. Bathroom When running a bath, it’s best to run the hot and cold taps together to reduce the risk of scalding. Always check the water temperature before stepping in. Use a non-slip rubber mat if you are worried about your balance and slipping. Have a hand rail fitted on the wall to help you step in and out. Bedroom If you use an electric blanket always switch it off before getting into bed. It’s best to avoid these if you have incontinence problems. Regularly check the cord for fraying or scorch marks. Remember to have the phone, remote control, drink and medicine beside the bed before you get in. Getting help Some local authorities offer free help for small jobs around the home, so do check with yours or through Age Concern: www.ageconcern.co.uk

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

Business gone slow? Let us help!

Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking.

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

• continental breakfast • large luxury en-suite rooms • free wifi internet access • sky tv/dvd player • fridge in room • private location • close to train station • major credit cards taken

Tel: 07970 162753

Email: ami@amcofm.co.uk or sally@amcofm.co.uk North Road, Baldock, Hertfordshire SG7 5DN

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

The best holiday tech FROM...

...books on the beach to battling bites Technology and holidays go together like sun, sea and sangria, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to benefit. For example, noise-cancelling headphones can remove unwanted noise such as the hum of aircraft engines or the drone of bus wheels, and you can pick up a decent pair for as little as £20. If you’d like to listen to the radio on your travels the Roberts Sports 925 (£16) has FM, MW and LW reception in a handy travel-sized case. If you want UK digital radio too, Roberts also makes the Sports DAB/FM radio, which receives both analogue and digital broadcasts for around £65. Many of us have MP3 players or phones with built-in music players, and there’s a dizzying range of travel speakers to choose from. At £14.99 the X-Mi X Mini II offers a surprising amount of volume for very little money, while Gear4’s StreetParty Compact iPod and iPhone dock is a battery-powered speaker set that can also charge your iPhone or iPod when it’s plugged into the mains. Some of the most useful travel gadgets are among the least high-tech: the Bite Relief Click (£5.99) promises to reduce the discomfort of insect bites by using a piezo-electric pulse to reduce itching, delivering instant relief in 5-10 ten clicks. In tests, Which? magazine found that such devices really do “provide a significant degree of relief”. Another low-tech gadget is the Quik Pod (£23.99), a telescopic arm for your camera that enables you to take self-portraits in front of landmarks without having to find somebody to take the picture for you. There’s even a little mirror so you can make sure you’re not going to end up with a photo of your torso.

Don’t forget a toolkit, either: Victorinox’s Swisscard Lite mini tool kit is effectively a Swiss Army knife flattened to the size of a credit card, and it includes a knife, scissors, an LED light, a screwdriver, magnifying lens, tweezers, pen and ruler. Just don’t take it in your hand luggage if you’re travelling by plane. 2012’s most popular travel gadget is the ebook reader, which is freeing up space in thousands of people’s suitcases. While devices such as Apple’s new iPad (£399) make great ebook readers for planes and trains, they’re useless in direct sunlight: if you want to read on the beach, an ebook reader with an e-ink screen is a much better option. Amazon’s Kindle is the market leader at £89 for the basic Kindle and £109 for the Kindle Touch, but the Kobo eReader Touch Edition (£79.99) and Sony Reader Wi-Fi (£129) are very good alternatives. The one thing most travel gadgets have in common is that they need some sort of power, but you don’t need to carry a charger for every single bit of kit: you can buy USB chargers for around £1.99 that plug into your hire car’s cigarette lighter and that can charge gadgets such as ebook readers, sat-navs and mobile phones, while multi-device chargers such as the Skross World Travel Adapter 2 (£17.99) offer USB device charging via a standard wall socket. If you think you’ll be spending most of your time away from home comforts, you can even charge your devices with solar power: the PowerTraveller Explorer Solar Power Charger (around £47) is compatible with most mobile phones, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets and many other digital devices.

Skross World Travel Adapter

Amazon Kindle Touch e-reader

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

What is a

Lasting Power of Attorney? There may come a time in your life when you lose mental capacity and are unable to manage your financial affairs or personal welfare, owing to some form of general incapacity or illness and you will need someone to act on your behalf. This person is called an Attorney. Growing older can mean problems for us and our loved ones... • Loss of mobility or illness can make it difficult to manage your affairs. • The prospect of unpaid bills can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety and delay someone’s recovery. • Even the young can encounter problems due to accident or illness so age is no reason to not have one. • An elderly relative losing capacity is difficult enough for loved ones to deal with, without the added worry that finances are becoming muddled. What is an Attorney? An Attorney is a person given power to act on a Donor’s behalf, either through a Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Finance or Health and

Welfare if the Donor were to lose capacity. (The Donor is the person making the Lasting Power of Attorney). Lasting Power of Attorney Appointing an Attorney by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures that if the worst were to happen and you lose mental capacity, you can rest assured that both your financial affairs and personal welfare are in safe hands. Making a Lasting Power of Attorney is the only way to legally state who you wish to look after your affairs if you lose mental capacity. Without a Lasting Power of Attorney it is up to the Courts to make decisions for you which can be very costly, time consuming and distressing for your relatives. These documents may be drafted in your home at a convenient time....do not leave it until it is too late! For a local appointment: Contact Steven White at Asset and Estate Planning Services Ltd. 0800 612 6371 or 07954 162 522

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Smyth & Co. are small business specialists offering a broad range of services to Sole Traders, Partnerships & Limited Companies including:

CMY

     

Business Start-Up Assistance Corporate & Personal Tax Advice Self Assessment Tax Returns Management & Annual Accounts Bookkeeping, Payroll, CIS & VAT Business plans and forecasts

For a free consultation call 01767 220214

www.smythaccountants.co.uk

4 High Street, Langford, Biggleswade, Beds. SG18 9RR

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

Alliance Foster Care

A True Story

Luke Rodgers, Young Person’s Ambassador, often ends his workshops by asking the participants to predict where they think that the young man whose case they have been assessing ended up. ‘‘Prison’ they tell me, or unhappy and drug addicted, or leading a life of crime. When I tell them that that young man – a boy who was in and out of care all of his childhood, abused, abandoned, troubled and in trouble – was in fact me, their response is astonishment. Hardly anyone is able to believe that it is possible for a young person to pull themselves out of the situation that I was in. But the few that do believe – it’s those people that children need, the ones who can believe in them, will trust them when no one else does, will make sure they have the support and access to the tools they have to have to build and hold onto their own expectations and then to live up to them.’ ‘I was born into a violent family. One of my earliest memories is of my father being violent to my mother.’ Luke explains. ‘The truth is she drank heavily and she and my father could not get on. But all along I thought that what happened in our house was normal, that my Dad hitting my Mum meant that he loved her. 40

‘When I was about four my Mum met someone else and moved out. Steve seemed kind and at first I was happy living with them, even though I missed my Dad terribly. I think it was this that made Steve, my step-dad, so angry and he began hitting me. My Mum, who was very bitter about the years of violence she had suffered, wouldn’t let me see my Dad which made me miss him all the more which meant that I got beaten more and more. It was a horrible circle and there seemed no way out until I was seven years old and the day came when my Mum finally cracked and took me to my Dad’s house and left me on the doorstep. ‘Of course I was happy at first, but it soon became impossible to stay with my Dad and I had to go back to my Mum’s. The abuse from my step-dad was worse then and because we moved about so much – I went to thirteen different primary schools, three different ones in one year, I never had the chance to make any real friends or connect with someone who might notice that something was wrong. I became a slave in the house, doing all the domestic work and being beaten for the smallest thing. I often screamed for my Dad and then my Mum would take me to him but he couldn’t help me long-term, and I would really miss my Mum who actually had custody of me, and so I would end up back with her and my step-dad again. ‘When I was eleven the bruises on my neck were noticed by a school friend and I told him what was going on. He said that I could come home with him and his parents took me in and told me I didn’t have to go home anymore. I got a lot of strength from that, the fact that I could and had done something to change my life, that I was believed and I did have some sort of control. ‘Through the next years I stayed in a few different foster homes and learned a lot about my Dad which left me disillusioned. It turned out that he wasn’t someone I could admire after all. I was scared and disappointed with myself - when I was suspended from school I realized that most people, my foster parents

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

included, thought that I was no good and I wanted, so badly, to prove them wrong. ‘Over the next few years I became a Persistent Young Offender and was in court many times. I missed all of year nine at school, took drugs, committed crimes, was in and out of foster and care homes. No one had time for someone who seemed so determined to get into trouble. They all just saw and reported the negatives. ‘When I was fifteen, I was taken in by a foster family who lived far out in the country. They told me that they didn’t have set meal times and that I could eat whatever I wanted. I was amazed and tucked into a big chicken pie that I found in the fridge. No one stopped me, no one treated me like I was bad and for about eighteen months things got better and my behavior really improved. ‘The problem was that I just couldn’t settle, I had become so used to trouble and trauma that I couldn’t stand things being so easy, so quiet, and regrettably I decided to leave. It wasn’t long afterwards that I ended up in a children’s home again, in court every Thursday, a Persistent Young Offender once more. I remember the magistrate telling me that I was headed for prison. I was really shocked and I wanted prove him wrong but I didn’t have the tools to do that. Thankfully I was put in a programme of Treatment Foster Care where I had to earn points in order to be able to watch TV, have a mobile phone or see a friend. Points were easy to earn at first but the expectations were raised all the time so that my behavior had to improve too. It took six months to reflect on my life and come to see that I had been blaming my past for all the wrong choices I had been making – I didn’t want to do that anymore and so I got back into

school and tried to work hard. I knew I didn’t belong with my family, I was so different to them and my Mum said I would end up dead in a ditch or in prison - but I badly wanted to prove her wrong, and everyone else who had judged me so negatively. ‘The night that changed my life was when I had ended up homeless again but I was found a place in a B and B by social services. It was an awful place but I didn’t care. I was on my own, I could look after myself and I didn’t have to rely on anyone else. I finally had some control over my own life – I cooked my own meals, went to school, joined a gym and got fit. Before too long I had the chance to go back to the foster carers I had really been happy with – they even got me another chicken pie to welcome me back! This time though they put me in a cottage where I could be independent and look after myself. This was such a chance for me and I did everything I could to make it work. I studied hard and got four A-levels. I wanted to be a social worker so that I could change the world but I soon learned that social workers have their own challenges that make their jobs really tough. I fell into my job as a Young Persons’ Ambassador by accident but it is absolutely what I want to do. I am a success story and I want to share that with everyone but also help young people find a voice, to share their stories too so that they can help others survive their tough times, believe in themselves and understand that they deserve that trust and belief from others too. Good foster carers, made all the difference to me and my story. They are the ones who really have faith in young people, who are willing to help a troubled person and give them their belief –and trust that they will come through.

In Luke’s capacity as the Young Persons Ambassador for Alliance Foster Care he delivers workshops for staff and foster carers. His personal experiences and honest account of his time in care provides us with an excellent insight into the needs of looked after children. With this better understanding of the experiences of children coming into care we are able to tailor our services to better meet the individual needs and wishes of the children in placement. At Alliance Foster Care we believe that all children should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential. If you would like to learn more about Alliance Foster Care and the work that we do please contact

Alliance Foster Care 01604 879373 To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

SPECIALISTS IN TREE SURGERY AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING

OUR SERVICES

Please contact us for more information.

73 Howard Drive, Letchworth Hertfordshire SG6 2BU

01462 683650 - 07540 555445 www.rgroundtreeandlandscaping.co.uk

STEEL FOR BUILDERS Are you paying too much for your steel through normal retail suppliers? Then contact County Construction (Steelworks) Ltd TODAY!

Steel for the building trade with next day delivery Steel Beams

Angle Beams

Double Beams

Box Beams

PFC’s

Flats

Flitch Plates

2nd Hand Beams

Heavy Section Beams

And much more...

All bolts incuded on fabricated beams

Call now for a free no obligation quotation on:

 01767 631063 

Email: brian.french@btconnect.com 42

Web: www.countysteel.com

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Dry Weather Gardening

by pippa greenwood After all those weeks in early summer when it seemed unable to stop raining, many plants will have been lulled into a false sense of security. And those of us who look after the plants are also likely to have become a little too used to not worrying about what and how to water to best effect, and how to minimise the effects of dry weather. So if you’re now finding yourself battling with the effects of a more text-book summer, here are my tips for coping: Mulching really does help to keep the moisture in the soil. It’s important to make sure the soil is really well watered BEFORE you apply the mulch, so water well or wait until after there has been a heavy rainfall. Then around the area, covering the roots of the plant (or preferably a bit further) shovel on well-rotted manure, composted bark or garden compost. Don’t forget that vegetables as well as flowers benefit from mulching. A slow but steady supply of water is generally more use and more appreciated by plants than intermittent heavy drenching. Newly planted trees and shrubs establish better and suffer drought stress less if the soil is never allowed to dry out completely. Installing some perforated or permeable pipe beneath the soil surface or on the surface but beneath the mulch provides just what they need. If you’re making any new plantings for the patio right now, don’t risk them becoming drought stressed before their moment of autumn or winter glory comes. When planting up late season patio pots, decrease the effects of the summer sun by lining the insides of the pot with bubblewrap polythene. When you do need to use extra water on your garden, try to apply it in the evening or otherwise as early as you can in the morning. Less will be lost by evaporation and there will also be less likelihood of plants suffering scorching. However much you’ve taken a fancy to a gorgeous looking plant in your local garden centre, don’t buy it right now. In hot, dry conditions it is much harder for a plant to become established and much more likely that it’ll suffer stress. A bit of temporary shading, perhaps in the form of some shade netting (available from garden centres) or some large, leafy branches driven in to the soil, will help to keep things a little cooler during the hotter weather. It may not look great,

but it could save you a packet in replacing plants. Vegetable plants can be covered with netted cloches (like the Giant Easy Net Tunnels available from my website) to achieve the same effect – and these will also help to keep off many potential pests too. Siphoning water out from the bath is a great way to re-use domestic water. The usual tiny quantities of soap or bubble bath used by most of us won’t cause any problems with plants and makes a great drink for trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables. Remember that some plants are more tolerant of dry conditions than others, so next time you do shop for plants, it may be worth bearing this in mind. On the whole, plants with silvery or densely hairy leaves are pretty drought tolerant, as are those whose names imply that they are of Mediterranean origin. Some of my favourite drought-resisters include: Convolvulus cneorum – stunning silvery leaves and miniature white flowers, often with a touch of pink, which resemble those of morning glories. Rosemary – this shrub has great purple flowers and wonderfully aromatic foliage, perfect for cooking, and when mature many people use the wood to make barbeque skewers which are said to impart a delightful rosemary aroma to the meat. Senecio maritima – a pretty divided leafed plant with dense hair on the leaves making it look silvery. Gazanias – with their large orange, brown and burgundy flowers and silvered leaves, they look a treat in patio pots of summer borders. Lavenders – aromatic leaves and perfumed blue, lilac purple or white flower spikes, this cottage garden favourite is also a magnet for bees. Geraniums and their cousins, Pelargoniums, are both very drought resistant, and come with foliage that is often attractively marked and pretty flowers. Pelargoniums, usually the more flamboyantly coloured of the two, are not hardy but great in summer containers and the herbaceous geraniums should last for years.

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

GILKS FENCING LTD Supplying of all types of gates and fencing to trade and public.

•Closeboard Fencing • TGV Gates • Trellis Made to Customers Design • Lap Panel Fencing • Railings • Chain Link • Knee Rail Fencing • Concrete Slotted Posts • Professional Installation Available

td encing L 9 2HX r Gilks F G1 fo S s s s d e re d B New Ad , Sandy, y a g n li ad, Gam rove Ro

Tel: 01767 681746 Fax: 01767 681776 www.gilksfencing.co.uk Email: gilksfencing@hotmail.com

 Lawns cut and edged  Borders and beds weeded  Shrubs pruned and shaped  Paths and patios swept  Rubbish removed  Patios and decking  Hedges cut  Turfing  Fences

Gardening a pain? Let us take the strain!

s tradi

Weekly, fortnightly or monthly visits arranged and one-off nightmares cleared

From just £12 per week Get 2 free months with this advert 20 years experience, friendly & reliable service

For more details or for a free quotation call 01462 896427 or email: david.sunshinegardensbaldock@mail.com 44

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Rural Ramblings BY GEOFF WHARTON

Feathered Friends? The seed varieties were meticulously inspected and then carefully selected. The seed trays were scrupulously cleaned and the seed sown. The seedlings were handled with utmost care nurtured and finally planted out during the best possible conditions….. and then the following morning every single one had been decimated leaving behind only microscopic remnants of once-vigorous cabbage plants. The woodpigeons had paid a visit! Nothing could be done to resuscitate them and I resolved that the only solution was to make some wire-mesh deterrents before next Spring. A similar outcome occurred with the squash plants. As soon as they had been planted out, the lurking snails thought it was heaven and emerged from their hiding places to shred this wonderful addition to their diet which had appeared as if by magic. Of course I could have anticipated all this and thrown a liberal handful of slug pellets around each transplant but knowing the adverse effects of earlier formulations on our song-bird populations such as thrushes, I was reluctant to do so. So I paid the price! However, a few weeks later we were to be graced by arrival of a song thrush and we were graced by his melodic presence which more than compensated for the loss a few paltry plants. Funny how things work out! A few days later I was up early and happened to come across a large dark bird low in the undergrowth surrounded by a multitude of smaller birds all shrieking and squarking and obviously under a great deal of distress. I couldn’t quite see what was happening but out popped a mahogany-brown Tawny owl and by the commotion which was going on, it was probable the owl had been in the process of getting it’s birdie breakfast. Fortunately for us (and him), a short time later, the thrush restarted to sing, so the snack hadn’t been him! It would have been ever so easy to get angry

with all this turmoil and to have taken more direct action against the perpetrators. In retrospect I am glad to have let nature take it’s course and only develop preventative strategies. I see that now the buzzard and other predatory bird populations are finally start to recover, some conflict situations are starting to occur. There was a suggestion that buzzards should be controlled again as they were seen to be causing problems with pheasant rearing. Fortunately for the buzzards, their protection has been continued, following the concerns expressed by other members of the public. Birds of prey, will by their nature, always have the potential for disrupting other (wild)life, but as long as the damage is not too great, surely their beauty more than compensates for any small financial loss?

Geoff Wharton Gardening Services Reliable, experienced, well qualified. General and specialist garden work: Jungle clearing, Pruning, Hedge and grass cutting, Regular maintenance, Licensed waste disposal. Full public liability cover. Geoff Wharton - BSC honours Hort.Science Email:geoffwharton@hotmail.com

Tel: 01767 261727

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

ANIMAL KNOW-HOW

Your pet and our weather Unpredictable. That’s perhaps the safest way of describing a British summer! This can be annoying for humans, but disastrous for our animals. Unlike us, many animals can’t sweat through their skin. They only cool down by sweating through sweat glands in their feet and panting. So it’s important that you help your pets to stay cool. • Never leave them in a car, conservatory or caravan on a warm or hot day – temperatures can become lethal in a matter of minutes. • Never leave them in direct sunlight– they need access to a cool, shady place at all times of day. Remember your fish, hamsters, gerbils, mice guinea pigs, rabbits and birds, as well as your dogs and cats. • Make sure they have a constant supply of clean, fresh drinking water – to replace any water that is lost through sweating and panting, and avoid dehydration. • Protect them from sunburn – animals with light coloured noses, or light coloured fur on their ears are especially sensitive.

Hitchin

01582 639811

01462 759819

01462 730769

Baldock

Stevenage

01462 759819 46

Luton

01462 759819

Letchworth

• Heat-stroke can be fatal, so be aware of the signs – excessive panting, heavy salivation, rapid pulse, very red gums/ tongue, lethargy, lack of co-ordination, being unable to get up after collapsing, vomiting and diarrhoea. If you suspect heat-stroke, move your pet to a shaded, cool area and contact your vet immediately. Our weather can be unpredictable – and extreme. Even if it’s cool and rainy when you leave your pet, there could be a sharp temperature rise within a relatively short space of time. Please protect your pet so everyone can have a great summer. ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA North Bedfordshire branch. www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

Hinxworth

01438 771738

0800 056 5711

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

dance e machin

r summe 12 20 bikeability

To find out more information about activities during Summer 2012 for adults and young people, please contact the Community Physical Activity Team on: 0300 300 8072 or email: physical.activity@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/healthierlifestyles

healthy walks

urban rebounding

zumba

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Making the most of a staycation

SPECIAL REPORT

Although you might imagine that the main reason people stay in the UK for the summer is lack of money, it’s not always the case. Not everyone likes the hassle of travelling, particularly those who are elderly and not up to facing the scrum of airports and ferry terminals. And if you are a parent of young children the journey is enough to put you off going away at all. We do have a beautiful country with some fascinating history and lots going on. But people travel overseas simply because we can’t rely on our weather. Chances are though, if you take a two week break at home - either in your own home or in a holiday rental property - there will be some days that are lovely and can be made every bit as enjoyable as being abroad. The trick is preparing as much as possible beforehand, so when the forecast says the next day will be warm you’ll be ready to leave early and beat the crowds. Firstly you need to think about the ‘equipment’ you’ll need. If you are planning a picnic lunch gather up the essentials and have them packed up ready to go. Picnic blankets are the lightest and smallest to carry but older members of the family might need a fold up chair. Games add to the fun so include a football, a Frisbee or buckets and spades. Younger children can have a small rucksack containing drawing materials. The food of course is a highlight of a day out and unless you are planning a pub lunch you should buy and prepare as much as you can well in advance. Biscuits, crisps and drinks and the obligatory tea bags, sugar, cups and a teaspoon should be packed in readiness. Make sure plastic containers have their lids with them and flasks their stoppers, and you won’t be scrabbling around at the back of the cupboard at the last minute. Other essentials include sun lotion, tissues/ kitchen towel, a rubbish bag and hand wipes – baby wipes make excellent all-purpose cleaning cloths. Some first aid materials won’t go amiss either, particularly plasters and sting relief cream. We all know that the forecast isn’t always right, so put a few jumpers in a bag too. Next, you need to decide where to go. Brainstorm ideas with your family: trips that only take a half day; beach or river destinations for the warmest days; places that have indoor

entertainment nearby if the weather turns or you decide to make a longer day. Include locations to go to when you have more of a budget e.g. theme parks, and also those that are free if you are trying to suit everybody without spending a fortune. If you have children, the website www. letsgowiththechildren.co.uk is an excellent source of ideas and www.resort-guide.co.uk is also a good site to visit. When the sun arrives, you’ll be able to quickly select an ideal spot from your list. The night before you go, top up the car with fuel, print out directions or set up the satnav, prepare any fresh food, withdraw some cash and put phones and cameras on charge. Most importantly, agree a leaving time for the next morning with the family. If you say 8 o’clock you have a chance of being on your way by 8:30; if you don’t say a time at all everybody will be working to their own plan and you will have wasted precious sunny hours.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Peugeot 208

BY JAMES BAGGOTT In the glory days, Peugeot shifted 7.7 million 206s and the iconic 205 before that found 5.2 million homes. The lacklustre 207 however never caught buyers’ imaginations - flopping with just 2.3 million shifted during its lifecycle. Now the French firm is hoping the all new 208 can bring back the glory days and sales success to its dealers once again. However, things are a lot tougher these days. Back in 2001, there were just 16 rivals in the B segment in which the 200 series models compete. Fast forward ten years and now there are 27 direct rivals vying for car buyers’ cash. But Peugeot hopes its new challenger can tackle the market leading Ford Fiesta head on. Aimed squarely at the sector sales leaders, the French firm hopes cute looks, competitive pricing and higher spec than rivals will be enough to tempt buyers to turn French. Sales of the 208 will ultimately make up a third of Peugeot dealers’ volume too, and in 2013 the firm hopes to shift 45,000 units, so there’s some serious weight on this little hatch’s shoulders. But is it any good? Well, yes and no. Firstly there’s an impressive choice of engines. There are five petrol units and five diesels to choose from and with sales expected to be split 50/50 between the fuel types that comes as little surprise. We tried the petrol 1.6-litre 155bhp, diesel 1.6-litre HDI with 115bhp, and the 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol. The diesel was excellent, but our pick has to be the characterful 1.2-litre with 82bhp and 118Nm of torque. It’s both great fun to drive yet economical too, returning 62.7mpg on the combined cycle and emitting just 104g/km. On the road it’s really rather good. Dynamically it’s composed and even in the lesser powered models it’s good fun to chuck around bends. The ride quality is impressive, but we did find the steering very light in town. The driving position is also strange with a tiny steering wheel that’s hard to position without obscuring the clocks. Overall, though, it drives like a little French hatch back should do - and we mean that in a positive way! The sales clincher is really on the spec sheets. Peugeot has aimed for all trim levels to be just that little bit better than Fiesta - and in this market that’s vital.

The most popular trim, taking 40 per cent of sales, will be the Active. As standard on this model you have that all important air con, a touchscreen display, 15-inch alloys, cruise control, Bluetooth with audio streaming and USB. There are plenty of options too, notably sat nav, which unfortunately is a little fiddly to use. Overall, we can’t help but like the 208 and it’s clear there’s a very good car in there waiting to escape (that’ll be the GTI). However, the design is a little fussy inside and out and the Ford Fiesta is a well established and popular rival. Priced from £9,995, the new 208 goes head to head with key rivals from Ford and Vauxhall. However, it remains to be seen whether its funky new looks and tech advances will be enough to bring the glory days back to Peugeot once again. Model: Peugeot 208 Price: From £9,995 Engine: 1.2-litre, 3cyl Power: 82bhp, 118Nm Max speed: 108mph 0-60mph: 12.1s MPG: 62.7 Emissions: 104g/km Residual values (three years): TBC, but expect them on a par with VW Polo

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

L Family Business with over 20 years experience Male and Female DSA Approved Instructors • Motorway Training • Theory Test Training • Pass Plus Training • Parking & Refresher Training • 10 Hours for £220 • Intensive courses available

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER First 2 hours for the price of one for new students with this voucher

07519 307088 rubyschoolofmotoring@gmail.com www.rubyschoolofmotoring.com

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

SEASONAL DELIGHTS

Cherry pots with fluffy meringue tops

Serves 4 Prep time 20 minutes Cooking time 20 minutes Ingredients 500g fresh cherries, pitted and cut in to half 50g soft brown sugar 150ml red wine 8 amaretti biscuits 3 large egg whites 150g golden caster sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220째C/ gas mark 7. 2. Place the cherries in a pan with the brown sugar and red wine. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes until soft. 3. Spoon the cherries in to 4 large ramekins. Roughly crumble the amaretti biscuits onto the top, dividing them equally. 4. In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites to a stiff peak. Start adding the sugar gradually, whisking all the time until the meringue is glossy. Spoon onto the top of the cherries. 5. Bake for 5-8 minutes until the meringue is golden. Serve with nothing else but a chilled glass of dessert wine or a generous glass of cassis.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Chris Tea's Vintage Tea Rooms Enjoy 'Traditional English Tea' in Letchworth

Specialists at hog roasting

For the month of June enjoy a Free Tea for one with any food purchased from the menu

Hot Hog roast only the finest British

Loose Leaf Teas • Delicious Homemade Cakes & Scones • Traditional Cream Teas Lunches • Soups • Jacket Potatoes • Paninis Pre Order & Take Away Service • Catering Situated at 5 The arcade, top of Leys avenue - Outside Seating available

Contact Jill or Michelle:

free-range pigs and also lamb or wild boar*. Our mobile unit comes complete with a chef and servers and we can cook from a half to two whole hogs at a time depending on your needs. Whatever the occasion, Hot Hog should be perfect for you.

• WEDDINGS • PARTIES • • CORPORATE & SPECIAL EVENTS •

seasonal

*pLEaSE MEnTiOn ThiS advErT

Open Mon - Fri 9.30am -3.30pm, Saturday 9am-5pm

Call Paul at Hot Hog now on

07572 427188

T: 01462 743552 M: 07885 638122

www.chris-teas.co.uk

BURY LANE • Fresh Fruit & Vegetables • Delicatessen • Café • Butchery • Fresh Flowers

• Gift Shop • Garden Shop • Plant Centre • PYO in season • Free- range eggs

Open 7 days a week all year round Monday - Saturday 9am - 5:30pm Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm

A10 Melbourn By pass, Melbourn, Royston, Herts 01763 260418

w w w. b u r yl a n e f a r m s h o p.c o.u k To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

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

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Are You Secure?

By Rita Williams-Hall Going on holiday is something we look forward to, a break from the rat race for a week or two. Of course the last thing you want to do while you’re away is worry about whether your home is safe, so here are some simple tips on security which will help to ensure that everything is how you left it on your return. If you have milk or newspaper deliveries, make sure they are suspended while you are away. Ensure your valuables and jewellery are locked away out of sight, or place them in a safety deposit box with your bank. You can buy timers that will switch your lights and radio on and off at pre-determined times, giving the impression that someone is in the house. Ask a good friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your house. Never leave your keys under a mat or flowerpot. If your house has a driveway where you normally park, ask a friend or neighbour to park their vehicle there occasionally. Turn the ringer volume down on your telephone so no-one

can hear in passing that your phone isn’t being answered. Probably most important thing to do is make sure you’ve locked up properly! Check all your window locks, and make sure all doors are fully locked too. Enjoy your holiday!

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

All types of roofing work undertaken. Friendly, reliable and professional service.

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

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 58

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

A picture paints a thousand words

BY Anne O’Brien

In our early days of married life each family photograph was lovingly taken with camera and film, delivered to the chemist for development and the finished prints picked up a week later. Sometimes, I’d use a special envelope for sending films off for processing to some far flung film developers before, hopefully, having them delivered back through the door. I can still remember the excitement of collecting developed pictures from the chemist; hoping the assistants hadn’t had a sneak peak at them, then hiding round the corner to scan the latest pictorial record of our life. There were always some photographs that hadn’t quite turned out as expected; blurrily out of focus, too bright or too dark, with maybe a fat thumb or skinny finger covering the lens and captured for all to see. I treasured these photographs. I used to spread them out on the living room floor and gaze at them for hours. Then once I’d had my fill of imprinting them on my memory and showing them off I’d proudly stick them into albums. As the years passed the collection of photographs and albums grew. As further years passed I became lax about sticking the photos in albums; instead tossing the packets of prints into an old apple box kept for that purpose. With the arrival of digital cameras we didn’t have to be so careful in our photo taking. Snap, snap, snap at each and every opportunity with no fears about the costs of film or processing. Transfer to the computer, delete those you don’t like, crop, adjust and save those you do. In the early days proudly printing them out on the home printer, then later, just burn them to disc and forget about the printing.

Stacks and stacks of discs recording our life, sanitised, edited and suitable for viewing by all. Emailed to friends and family, posted on Facebook and shared with the world, backed up then slipped into little plastic wallets... and largely forgotten. Far too many to commit to memory – far too many marking insignificant and truly mundane moments. Recently, while sorting through some papers I came across a photograph. It showed three small boys in swimming trunks and a middle aged man also in trunks. They were all standing in a river, knee deep in water and holding hands. It’s a glorious summer day and while you can’t fully see their faces it’s clear they’re laughing. If you look closely you can see fishing rods, towels, a picnic and two cans of beer on the riverbank. You can also see my toes captured while sitting on the grass and taking the photograph. I’d nearly forgotten that day 25 years ago; not quite but nearly. Three young boys and their granddad fishing and swimming, the family holiday, the nettles, the trek to the swimming spot and the digging for worms. I remember a lot more but it’s not for sharing. It’s for savouring in quiet, private moments when I need to count my blessings – something I do frequently. Apart from the wonderful memories the photograph invoked it also prompted another feeling. I’m now increasingly convinced of the need to revert to actually printing my digital photographs, or of having them printed for me. I don’t want them to be forgotten or consigned to shiny metal discs and stuffed into brittle plastic envelopes. I’d quite like my children to come across them and think, ‘I remember that.’

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

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Lofty ideals

By KATHeRINE SORELL Converting your loft can be the ideal way to gain extra space without the expense and hassle of moving house. Dark, pokey and inaccessible lofts can often be, literally, a waste of space, useful for a bit of dusty, long-term storage and nothing else. Turn that space into one or two useful rooms and – ta da! – not only might you have added real value to your property, but you’ve got extra living space that could make all the difference to happy family life. The simplest loft conversion might just involve strengthening and boarding out the floor, adding a light and sticking in a pull-down loft ladder – giving you a good-sized storage area that’s accessible on a regular basis, at a cost of probably only a couple of thousand pounds. Bear in mind, however, that Building Regulations may apply to even a simple conversion – see more at www. planningportal.gov.uk. Such a basic project may be a good idea in practical, everyday terms, but if it’s added value you’re after, you’ll have to be more ambitious, say the experts, and put in at least one ‘real’ room. ‘It’s a false economy to cut corners,’ says Jeremy Leaf, RICS housing spokesperson (www.rics.org). ‘To maximise your return the conversion has to be designed properly from the very beginning. You should have a proper lobby area when you come up the stairs, there should be sufficient head clearance, it should be properly insulated, you should have a dormer window rather than a Velux. It’s also important to think about how a loft conversion affects the house as a whole, as they can make them top heavy, with too many bedrooms and, in comparison, too few reception rooms. Check out other properties nearby which have been similarly extended to see what has been done and what they’re worth.’ When doing your research, it’s always a good idea to ask a local estate agent for advice, and you could also go to a website such as www.nethouseprices. com to find out how much properties in your area have sold for recently. A word about space planning. If you have room, adding a bathroom to a loft conversion makes sense both practically and financially, and shouldn’t cost any more than adding a new bathroom anywhere else in the house – in other words, anything from around £3,000 for a plain

fit-out. Costs will be minimised if you place the bathroom above one on the floor below, keeping plumbing work simple, but Hugo Tugman of Architect Your Home (www.architect-yourhome. com) points out that you should always keep your options open. ‘It’s folly to put the bathroom in the wrong place, just because that’s where the drains are,’ he says. ‘The same goes for staircases – most people think that there’s just one place where a staircase can be fitted in a loft conversion, because Building Regulations require two metres of head room above it, but you can end up squashing your accommodation just because the best bit of loft is taken up with a staircase. It’s really worth considering the possible alternatives when doing your planning.’ And finally, if overall head height is an issue in your potential loft conversion, don’t try to get away with cramped, uncomfortable rooms. Hugo points out that lowering the ceilings of the rooms below is often a possibility, and can make all the difference to the success of a project. ‘It sounds like it would be a massive expense,’ he says, ‘but in fact the additional costs are really only plastering and decorating the rooms below, and it would probably add no more than about three or four thousand onto a simple job.’ The HSBC’s annual home improvement survey found, in March this year, that a loft conversion is still the improvement that adds the most value, boosting the price of a property by, on average, £16,152. But according to specialists Econoloft, a typical conversion by building professionals costs between £20,000 and £30,000. The answer may lie, therefore, in keeping costs down by doing as much work as possible yourself – but only if you can do it to a good standard. Valuation expert Paul Cutbill, of Countrywide Surveying Services, said: ‘Whilst sensibly improved and well presented homes will generally be attractive to potential purchasers, rising labour and material costs mean that the gap between the cost of improving and monies realised at the point of any sale has been reduced. Poor quality refitting and lack of proper design considerations, often as a result of inadequate project budgeting and planning, can also have a significant knock-on effect to any added value which might be gained when selling a property.’

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Lots of Choice Immediate Availability

The Carpet Trade Centre • • • •

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

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

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.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Fully qualiFied â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 25 years experienCe

PlumbinG & heatinG ltd

gas

Gas installer Boiler installation with 5 year warranty Boiler breakdown & power flushing Frozen condense pipe rectified Boiler service and landlord certification

water PlumbinG and heatinG

Full heating & bathroom installation Under floor heating Mains pressure upgrades General plumbing work & maintenance

solar solar

Solar thermal for hot water Solar PV installation by MCS approved installers Solar cylinder upgrades & breakdowns

Call: 01462 292247 / 07566 118 247 218627

14 Pear Tree Close, Lower Stondon, Bedfordshire SG16 6ND Email: dave@dhplumb.co.uk Website: www.dhplumb.co.uk

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

Office Politics

By ted bruning

If there’s one thing I thought I’d never miss, it’s office politics. All that bitching and bellyaching and backbiting. I was a victim of it myself, which is why I’m now working from home. The truth is, I was never any good at it. I didn’t understand how it worked, nor why anybody should choose to indulge in it. As far as I was concerned, you did your work, you went home, you got paid; and everybody else did pretty much the same. I was always too honest, or (if truth be told) too slow in the wits to realise that life wasn’t like that. Take character assassination. I know how it’s done now. You have to pick the right moments – in casual conversation (preferably out of the office rather than in the middle of a meeting) to sow the seeds of doubt about a colleague’s performance. You have to dress it up right: damning with faint praise is far more effective than outright condemnation. You have to build up to it, to insinuate yourself with the right people, to create the image of the positive, helpful, sympathetic workmate rather than the envious, hate-filled sac of venom you actually are. I was always too polite, though. I believed that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Then there’s empire-building. Personally, being bone idle, I couldn’t believe that anybody would actually want more responsibility. Come five, my jacket was off the back of the chair and I was down the pub. If anybody was fool enough to want to take over some of my remit, more fool them. Then one day I woke up to find I didn’t have any remit left. So here I am, working from home. Well, perhaps I wasn’t as stupid as all that. I vaguely perceived that there were people who wanted to increase their influence at the expense of mine, and on the rare occasions when I managed to pull one over on them I was mightily pleased with myself. But I was no Iago. I wasn’t subtle enough, or persistent enough. I couldn’t be bothered to worm my way into the inner circle. By the time I walked out of the office door for the last time and entered the wonderful world of working from home I was heartily glad to be free of office politics and never dreamt I’d miss

it. But after all, it’s human contact of a sort, even if they’re humans you really want to drop breezeblocks on from the top of a very tall building. It keeps you sharp. And besides, I think I’d be much better at it now. I could be good at being the boss’s blue-eyed boy if I put my mind to it. So I’m going to practise, although as a one-man band it might not be easy. I’m going to network surreptitiously with myself so I can blacken my reputation behind my back. I’m going to use my good standing with myself to gain ownership of my department’s operations. I’m going to claim the credit for all my successes while shifting the blame onto myself for all my shortcomings. I’m going to withhold vital information from myself and finally, albeit reluctantly, I’m going to have to let myself go. Then I’m going to have to replace myself with someone who’s more of a team player, someone who shares the company’s focus, someone who’s more directed towards common goals. Myself.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Garden and Property Maintenance internal and external repairs Fencing and timber structures Environmental retaining walls Decking and paving Decorating and internal repairs Routing cables and networking Satellite fault finding and repairing Shed repairs including new felt or roof

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

Main build

The final result!

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

Chapman Property Maintenance

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

01462 813164 or 07767 442904

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

What’s Your Sport?

BY Alex Brown

Follow the lead of the Olympic athletes and make 2012 the year you get into sport. The world will be watching this summer as the Olympic Games comes to London. It’s the biggest sporting event on the planet, involving 10,500 athletes from 205 countries. These elite sportsmen and women will have trained for years to reach the peak of their physical fitness. You might not want to reach that level, but we all know the benefits of being active – getting fit, losing weight, achieving goals and meeting people. Why not use the Olympics as inspiration to try something new? Before you begin, it’s worth asking yourself a few questions: • What is your existing fitness level and what do you hope to achieve? • Do you like to exercise alone, in a group or with your family? • How much time and money do you want to commit? • Would you prefer a creative activity, such as dance or gymnastics, a fitness regime or a competitive sport? Your local council is a good place to start your search. Leisure centres provide reasonably priced options for a wide variety of sports across all age ranges. Many offer subsidised and even free activities for people on benefits, older people, people with disabilities and students. They may run taster sessions so that you can try a new sport before you commit. Athletics is always one of the most watched Olympic events and tickets are highly prized. Running is a great way to get fit – it’s free, doesn’t take much time and is suitable for all fitness levels. The Run England website (www. runengland.org) has pointers on how to begin. You can find details of your nearest athletics club via UK Athletics (www.uka.org.uk). Another Olympic sport that gets you out and about is cycling. You can either use it simply as a practical way to travel, or head for an off-road route. The Sustrans website (www.sustrans.org. uk) has a regional guide to beautiful places to ride. If you never learned to swim or want to improve your technique, or if you want to support your child to learn, www.swimming.org is full of tips,

inspirational stories and guidance, such as what to do if you’re nervous in water. For animal lovers, horse-riding might be perfect choice. Whether you fancy a relaxing ride in the countryside or the challenge of show-jumping or polo, there are lots of opportunities. For details, contact the British Horse Society (www.bhs.org. uk) or the Association of British Riding Schools (www.abrs-info.org). Here are links to some more Olympic sports you could try: • www.archerygb.org.uk • www.britishfencing.com • www.britishtaekwondo.org.uk • www.canoe-england.org.uk • www.britishweightlifting.org Whatever you choose, make sure you prepare carefully and stay safe. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun!

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

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

what’S ON?

IN JULY

8 July American Forces Charity Day 10am Bedford Autodrome, Thurleigh Airfield Business Park, Thurleigh Tickets £5 in advance, £8 on the day and includes entrance to the Museum This special charity event in conjunction with the USAF 306th Bombardment Group Museum at Bedford Autodrome will be a day of fun, dance and nostalgia. Special flypast by the only remaining airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress. Among the attractions will be vintage military vehicles, jitterbug dancing, Harley Davidsons, Trade Stands, classic cars and plenty of refreshments including a hog roast. Celebrating 10 years of the 306th Bombardment Group Museum and 5 years of the East Anglia Air Ambulance. Raising funds for the EAAA. For more information or tickets please contact: Ralph Franklin 01234 708715 / 306museum@nscmh. fsnet.co.uk Jo Harris 01525 718517 / joanna.harris@eaaa.org.uk 8 July Summer Concert Gates open 1.30pm, concert 3pm Moggerhanger Park East Beds Concert Band summer concert which will feature some well-known TV and film music, and there’ll be something for everyone from Thunderbirds to the Pirates of the Caribbean. This year, East Beds Concert Band will be performing the wind band world premiere of “When the dancers depart” by Roger Nichols, specially arranged for the band. Please bring a picnic, and rugs or chairs and to sit in the fabulous grounds whilst enjoying a wide selection of music. Alternatively you can enjoy food from the refreshment tents, and fantastic homemade ice-cream from Mr and Mrs Maynards. 11 July Langford W.I. 7.15pm Methodist Chapel Schoolroom, Langford Visitors welcome £3 Speaker is Edith Garea on “Fruit Art”. 14 July Hot Rod Hijack 11am Letchworth Town Centre Enjoy a fantastic collection of hot rods and classic scooters in Letchworth Town Centre. Organised by the Letchworth Town Centre Partnership. Web: www.loveletchworth.com for more details

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 14 & 15 July Weekend of Dance Noon Leys Avenue, Letchworth (opposite the Three Magnets) Letchworth Morris Men are hosting a Weekend of Dance to celebrate their 90th Anniversary, and expect about 100 men from all over the UK to attend. There will be massed shows each lasting about an hour from noon Saturday 14 July, then the men and musicians will tour villages and pubs surrounding Letchworth by coach. Sunday 15 July will see the men descend on Ashwell for the morning church service, followed by more dancing outside the Museum at noon for about an hour. Tel: The Bagman, Theo Thomas 01582 882831 Web: www.letchworthmorris.org.uk 18 July Langford Ivel WI 7.20pm St Andrew’s Church Hall, Langford Jubilee Celebrations. Visitors welcome. Tel: Barbara 01462 700372 20 July Legends of Soul Night Arlesey Town Football Club Tickets £10 Featuring Shenton Dixon as Stevie Wonder, Barry White, George Benson and Louis Armstrong plus support disco. A great soul night out. Tickets available from Lesley at the Club or call Lesley on 07717 462393 for more info on this event. 20-22 July Man & Superman 6.30pm Shaw’s Corner, Ayot St Lawrence, Nr Welwyn Advanced Tickets: Adult £18, child £14, groups (10+) £15 On the door: Adult £21, child £17, groups (10+) £18 Outdoor Theatre at Shaw’s Corner. George Bernard Shaw’s play. Revolutionary John Tanner desperately tries to escape the clutches of the determined Ann Whitefield in this comedic and philosophical masterpiece. Bring a picnic and enjoy the works of one of the great masters of the English language in his own home. The garden is open for picnics from 5.30pm. Please bring your own seats, but no gazebos or fishing shelters. It is advisable to bring warm clothing, a rug and umbrella, just in case. Children over 12 only please. Box office: 0844 249 1895

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

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 Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

BEST FOOT FORWARD

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti Many of us neglect our feet and dread the prospect of exposing them because of common problems like sweatiness, smelliness, corns, calluses or bunions. With over 125,000 sweat glands on each foot, it’s no surprise that feet produce an eggcup’s worth of sweat each day! Bacteria on the skin break down sweat as it comes from the pores and this releases a cheesy odour as the sweat decomposes. Smelly feet occur when sweat soaks into shoes which don’t dry properly before being worn again. To help keep feet dry and odour free, wash at least daily in warm, soapy water, dry thoroughly, wipe with cotton wool dipped in surgical spirit and then dust with talc. In addition, change socks daily (choose cotton ones if possible) and alternate your choice of shoes. Using spray antiperspirant/deodorant, medicated insoles, and feet-fresh or antibacterial socks will also help, as will wearing leather, canvas or open toe shoes. Not only are corns and calluses unsightly, they are also very painful. They occur when skin thickens after being exposed to excessive pressure or friction – like ill-fitting shoes. Whilst corns are most often found on the tops and sides of toes, calluses are usually found on the heel or ball of the foot. Before attempting to treat either condition, first consult with a chiropodist/podiatrist who will help identify the

cause and advise you on the best treatment. A professional is likely to use a sharp blade to remove corns or badly callused areas, but it’s safer for an amateur to use a pumice stone or foot file to rub down thick or hard skin, followed by a rich moisturiser such as E45 to soften the skin. Other treatments like corn plasters, rehydration creams, insoles or wedges are also available over the counter, but not all are recommended for all people (e.g. those with diabetes or circulatory problems) so seek advice before using them. No one knows why bunions occur, though they seem to run in families, are more likely to occur if you have flexible joints, and are more common in women. Wearing ill fitting shoes can make them worse, so treatment includes modifying footwear, taking painkillers, and using orthotics such as bunion pads, insoles and toe spacers. Prevention is always better than cure, and basic hygiene and nail cutting should be all you need to keep your feet healthy, but if you do have serious or ongoing problems, seek professional help. Podiatry is available on the NHS but may be limited. If you choose a private practitioner, make sure they are registered with the Health Professionals Council (HPC) and are a member of an official chiropody or podiatry body.

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

The Villager Prize Crossword

Last Month’s Crossword Winners Congratulations to: 1st - Mr. P. White from Clifton 2nd - Mrs. C. Traynor from Spaldwick

sponsors of

THE VILLAGER PRIZE CROSSWORD

1st Prize £25 Name:

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before 20th July 2012 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

2nd Prize £15

Tel:

Address:

Across 1 Closed forcefully (7) 5 Keen (5) 8 Ceremonies (5) 9 Brutal (7) 10 At right angles (13) 11 Violin (6) 12 Beverage (6) 15 Exhibition (13) 18 Return to original state (7) 19 Affected by alcohol (5) 20 Registers (5) 21 Found on the shoreline (7) Down 1 Strip of leather (5) 2 Changed (7) 3 Assorted items (13) 4 Split up (6) 5 Book of information (13) 6 Low animal noise (5) 7 Hold back (7) 11 Of a league or alliance (7) 13 Lack of success (7) 14 Speaks (6) 16 Poles supporting sails (5) 17 Nude (5)

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

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

Members of

Membership No. 3003012002

17173

Plumbing and Heating Engineer Ltd • Mechanical Services • Oil, Gas & Solid Fuel • Central Heating • General Plumbing • Leadwork Specialists T. 01462 731896/733364 F: 01462 835588 E: info@gaphe.co.uk The Old Stables Station Road, Arlesey Beds SG15 6RG

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 76

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Just Add Water - It’s SOS for H2O

by Debbie Singh-Bhatti As I write, rain is teeming down outside and hailstones are beating against my window. It’s hard to believe that over half the country is under drought conditions and that seven water authorities have imposed temporary hosepipe bans. But two unusually dry winters have resulted in a serious shortage of water, particularly in the Midlands and South West, with an increasing chance of other areas being affected too. The ban, which is aimed primarily at domestic users and prevents the use of hosepipes for such things as watering the garden, cleaning the car, filling up paddling pools and ponds, and cleaning walls, windows, patios and paths,

is likely to last throughout the summer and quite possibly into the autumn or winter unless we experience a dramatic increase in rainfall over the next few months. Whilst water companies wage an ongoing battle against leaky pipes and explore ways of sharing water across boundaries, the government has urged us all to be “smarter about how we use water... to help prevent serious impacts next year.” We can start by packing away our hosepipes and digging out our buckets (we could face fines of up to £1,000 if we don’t) but there are other simple measures we can take to cut down our water usage. • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. • Put a hippo or other displacement device into the cistern (your water company can give you one for free). • Mend a dripping tap. • Fill up your dishwasher and choose a cycle that provides the same cleaning power as a normal cycle, but uses less water and energy. • Take a short shower instead of a bath when possible. Re-use bathwater to water houseplants or the garden. • Wait for a full load before starting your washing machine. • Fill a jug with tap water and cool it in the fridge to avoid running the tap for ages to get a cold drink. • Check taps regularly and replace worn washers as soon as possible. • Wash fruit and veg in a bowl rather than under a running tap and use the leftover water to feed your houseplants. • Throw away instead of flush away cotton balls, make-up tissues etc. Failing all this, we could simply pray that rain falls on 15th July – St Swithin’s Day – as tradition states that: ‘St Swithin’s day if thou dost rain For forty days it will remain. St Swithin’s day if thou be fair For forty days ‘twill rain nae mare.’ For more information about the hosepipe ban, exceptions to it and how to conserve water go to www.hosepipeban.org.uk and www.waterwise.org.uk.

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

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Forget Fido!

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti In the excitement of preparing for a holiday or weekend away, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to make arrangements for your pets! There are several options to ensure your pet is cared for properly - leave them with friends or family, hire a pet-sitter, or board them. As a change of routine can be very stressful to pets, asking a responsible and familiar family member or friend to care for them may be the best solution. However, if this is not possible, the next best thing might be to employ a pet-sitter who would visit your home to feed, clean and exercise your pet. Be sure to meet your sitter before employing them, ask for references and police checks and make sure they have insurance. If you decide to board your pet, take time to find a kennel, cattery or small animal boarder that will suit your pet. Pay a visit beforehand and check that they are licensed, insured, and that the facilities are secure, clean, dry and draught free. Also check that the animals look clean, happy and healthy. Whatever arrangements you decide on, be sure to

Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance 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 78

choose someone responsible and give them clear instructions about diet, exercise, medication and how to socialise with your pet. Then go and enjoy your holiday, confident that your pet will be in safe hands!

M&M

Painting & Decorating Domestic Specialist Over 15 years experience Interior & Exterior Decorating Free No Obligation Estimates Fair Prices Reliable Quality Work Call Martin on T: 01438 354486 M: 07775 645717 Please mention the Villager when you call - special rates apply

Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

C l a s s i f i e d s Alarm Specialists

Plastering

James Geekie Plastering

alarm rescue Repairs, alterations and new installation for burglar and fire alarm systems

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

No annual charge to pay – you only pay for the time and the materials used!

(NO VAT)

If your alarm system needs rescuing, call Alarm Rescue

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

Tel: 07860 470528 www.alarmrescue.co.uk

Plumbing

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

01462 732632

Members of

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

Membership No. 3003012002

Plumbing and Heating Engineers Ltd

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

• Mechanical Services • Oil, Gas & Solid Fuel • Central Heating • General Plumbing • Leadwork Specialist s T. 01462 731896/733364 F: 01462 83558 E: info@gaphe.co.uk

Drying time kept to a minimum Flea & Dustmite control available 24 Years’ Experience Fully Insured

The Old Stables, Station Road, Arlesey, Beds SG15 6RG

NO VAT for a limited period

1 Decorators

S2C_ADD.indd

09/12/2010

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

01763 250 865 M: 0 7 7 7 5 6 6 7 3 7 0 T:

Pet Services

17173

16:41

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 Upholstery

C l a s s i f i e d s To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122