Henlow mar 15

VILLAGER The

Issue 76 - March 2015

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Mother’s Day Around the World

St. John’s Hospice 35th Anniversary

Win £25 in our Prize Crossword Bringing Local Business to Local People in

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Contents Water Jousting

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35th Anniversary of St John’s Hospice........................................4 You Get What You Pay For...........................................................8 Fun Quiz...................................................................................11 Win Tickets for an Evening with Ian McCulloch.........................13 Mother’s Day Around the World...............................................14 The Clophill Heritage Trust.......................................................16 East Anglian Model Railway Exhibition....................................19 Sète - Water Jousting...............................................................20 Quit While You’re Ahead...........................................................22 Pilates - Part 2..........................................................................25 Pass on the Salt........................................................................26 There’s Something in the Air....................................................28 Helen’s Helpful Hints................................................................32 Businesses are not Testing their Emergency Plans....................35

VILLAGER The

Issue 76 - March 2015

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Mother’s Day Around the World

St. John’s Hospice 35th Anniversary

Win £25 in our Prize Crossword Bringing Local Business to Local People in

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

Computer Encryption...............................................................37 Employment Matters...............................................................39 Facing North............................................................................42 Nature Returns to Local Quarries..............................................45 Why Cards are still King when you want to Play.......................48 Damselflies and Demoiselles....................................................51 Seasonal Delights.....................................................................52 Animal Stories..........................................................................54 Children’s Page.........................................................................59 Puzzle Page..............................................................................60 Kama’s Cave - Greyhound Sanctuary........................................63 Author’s Focus..........................................................................64 A Holiday in Hampshire............................................................66 What’s On.................................................................................68 Prize Crossword........................................................................74 Fix My Street............................................................................76

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Model Railway Exhibition

9,500 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Henlow, Langford, Astwick, Edworth, Hinxworth, Caldecote, Newnham, Radwell, Bygrave, Shillington, Holwell, Pirton, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Ashwell End and Stanford (Further bulk drops are made to local shops and busineses in Arlesey, Upper and Lower Stondon, Shefford, Baldock, Letchworth, Hitchin and Stotfold)

Editor - Catherine Rose Editorial - Catherine Rose, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Alison Runham, Solange Hando, Trudy Cambridge, Louise Addison, Nooshin Hassan, Helen Springer, Kam Patel, Pippa Greenwood, RSPB, Andy Mydellton, RSPCA, Paul Chambers and Tim Saunders Advertising Sales Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 - nigel@villagermag.com

Photography - Dmitriy Shironosov, Sharon Cooper and Andy Croft LRPS Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

ur Yo EE FRcopy

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com Disclaimer - All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however, Villager Publications Ltd can not take any responsibility for the content of the adverts, the services provided by the advertisers or any statements given in the editorial. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored without the express permission of the publisher.

History

By Catherine Rose

The 35th Anniversary of

St John’s Hospice This month, Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice marks its 35th year in Bedfordshire – a beautiful building in tranquil gardens that offers specialist medical and palliative care to those suffering with incurable illness, as well as emotional support for their families. Catherine Rose takes a look back at the hospice’s history, and the ways it is celebrating its anniversary.

In 1975, Lady Susan Ryder contacted David Baker, County Conservation Officer with a view to finding a country house in Bedfordshire that would be suitable for conversion into a Sue Ryder home. At the same time it became apparent to senior staff at Bedford General Hospital that more provision was needed for the welfare of those suffering from advanced terminal illness needing specialist palliative care.

A committee was formed and fundraising began.

Late that year, Major and Mrs Thornton who were

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living at St John’s, Moggerhanger decided it was too large for just the two of them. They converted the gardener’s cottage for their own use and put the large house, which had originally been built as a shooting lodge for Moggerhanger Park, on the market. Park House had been in the Thornton family since the seventeenth century and the lodge was originally named St John’s after a place in Newfoundland where Major Thornton’s ancestor, Colonel William Thornton served in the Grenadier Guards.

Bernard West was on the sub-committee looking for suitable premises and knew the Thorntons.

He suggested that St John’s might make an ideal venue for the hospice if it was sympathetically extended out into the courtyard.

The sale was completed in 1977 and work began on extending, converting the bedrooms and building a chapel. St John’s received its first patients three years later following concerted fundraising efforts.

The original fundraising committee – all volunteers - comprised Tim Nicol (chairman), Peter Hulance (treasurer), Clarissa Robinson (chairman of North Beds Community Health Council), Mary MacPherson, David Green and Sue Allen (fete

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organisers), Doug and Dee White, Pat Losty, Jane Seekings, Jennifer Firmin, Kate Perrins and Ken Lynch. Early fundraising efforts were not dissimilar to those of today with the 100 Club being launched (now a lottery), musical events, charity lunches, marathons, swimathons, fashion shows, balls and cards for sale amongst others.

The first fete was held on 13th September 1981 and with a 10p entrance fee generated £144.90.

Takings increased year by year but were eclipsed in 1987 when the fete was attended by local celebrity musicians Cleo Laine and John Dankworth. Nearly 4,000 people came and the cake stall alone took £3,000. The total takings for the fete that year were £11,000.

When the husband of someone on the fundraising committee passed away at St John’s, she related how “kindness, care and love had carried us through those hours which could have been so lonely and frightening.” It is a sentiment that is echoed in countless letters that the hospice receives daily from families of patients who wish to express their gratitude at the support they have been given at the most difficult time imaginable.

Today Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice remains the local community hospice. Paula Priestley, Hospice Fundraising Manager says: “We are passionate about giving people the care they want. The people we support - their needs, wishes and aspirations - are at the heart of everything we do.

“Today over 18 million people in the UK live with illnesses like cancer, MS, Motor Neurone Disease, dementia, heart failure and Parkinson’s – that’s one

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in four of us. These conditions will at some stage affect all our lives, whatever your age - whether it’s you, a family member, a friend or a colleague. No one is immune from the effects of terminal illness.

“At St John’s Hospice we aim to bring comfort to someone’s final days and to enable them, as far as possible, to live the life they want. We are here for the whole family.”

Sadly, today more people than ever before need the kind of incredible care Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice can provide. However, costs are ever increasing and this coming year, £7,945 will be needed every day to run the hospice so this care can be offered to those in the community that need it completely free of charge.

St John’s is therefore always looking for charity partners, volunteers, people to take part in sponsored challenges and organise events, fundraisers, those willing to leave a gift in their will, and donations of money and bags of goods for the on-site nearly new shop.

In celebration of this special 35th year, the hospice is also asking people to donate 35p a day for 350 days or text THANKS to 78555 to give £8.

Dates for your diary next year are: Easter Egg Hunt - 29th March; Summer Fete - 9th August; Starlight Hike - 12th September; Annual Ball - 14th November.

Please contact the fundraising office on 01767 642412 for further information or if you can help with any of the ways listed above.

In the meantime, here’s to another 35 years of incredible care.

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Let’s do

lunch Hearty braised lamb stew, lentils, carrots & dumplings or Woburn venison ‘cottage pie’ – the perfect winter warmers!

Fresh sandwiches and fries, or our famous Coach House burger to make your mouth water.

We’ve got lunch covered Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 2.30pm.

12 Market Square, Potton, SG19 2NP 01767 260221 www.coachhousepotton.co.uk

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And not forgetting the daddy of all lunches – the Sunday roast. Served from 12 noon to 3pm with a choice of meats and plenty of seasonal veg.

18/02/2015 10:28 7

Three Counties Radio

You Get

By Jonathan Vernon-Smith

What You Pay For

In these cash strapped times, when the pennies don’t seem to stretch as far, it’s always important to make sure you’re getting the things you need at the best possible prices.

We all know there are ways of ensuring you bag a bargain. Shopping around is of course the most effective way. The internet has allowed many of us to become experts in this.

It should always be remembered though that sometimes, paying the least amount for something is not always the best policy. So when SHOULD you pay as much as you can afford?

Life is sadly, all too short. The years seem to whiz by at ever increasing speed. When you face up to this, you realise that sometimes it’s worth paying a little bit more for a product or service. Is it really worth buying a TV from an online company you’ve never heard of when you can spend £30 more to buy it from a wellrespected high street retailer with a good record of customer service? I would suggest not! When that TV breaks several months down the line, do you really want to spend weeks of your short life, arguing with and struggling to communicate with the lesser known internet company? Was the £30 saving really worth it? No! Remember this, next time you go out of your way to save a little bit of money – it’s often simply not worth it.

There are also times when you should actively spend as MUCH money as you can. The most obvious example of this is when buying a bed. My motto is, spend as much money as you can possibly afford on your bed. But why would I say such a crazy thing when there are so many companies selling beds at craaaaazy low prices? Simple! You normally get what you pay for where beds are concerned. If you buy a king size bed with a mattress for £100, you’ll almost certainly get a rubbish bed with springs that will stick in your back for years to come. Well I say years, it will probably only last a couple of years before it completely falls apart. You spend a third of your short life in bed, so always stretch yourself and spend as much as you can. When you’re still sinking under the duvet in supreme comfort 8 years down the line, you’ll be grateful you did.

10 years ago, when I worked in Northampton (home of the World’s best shoe makers), I bought a pair of £300 shoes. What? I hear you shout! You’re mad! Well, 10 years later, I still wear them several times a week. They polish up like new and are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. I think they’ll last me so long, I’ll end up wearing them in my coffin. For me, that was £300 well spent and actually when you look at the cost over many years, they weren’t really that expensive.

A false economy would have been a pair of £40 shoes that fell apart after 6 months.

In a nutshell, when you need quality and longevity, you should always look to spend as much as you can afford to. It’s also worth noting that in legal terms, the more you spend on a product, the more you can expect from it. As a consumer, you can legally expect a £3000 bed to last far longer than a £300 bed. If something goes wrong and the retailer refuses to help, the fact you spent a considerable amount will add weight to your case in front of the judge.

So next time you decide that bargain hunting is the best policy of the savvy consumer, just remember, it isn’t ALWAYS so!

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

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Fun Quiz - The Internet 1. What colour are Mr. Blobby’s spots?

2. On the TV show Mrs. Brown’s boys, what is Mrs. Brown’s first name?

3. In the world of TV, which job has been held by Mr. Starling, Mr. Llewelyn, Mrs. McClusky, Mr. Humphries, Mrs. Keele, Mr. McNab, Mr. Robson and Mrs. Bassinger?

4. Which movie character has a pet cat called Mr. Bigglesworth?

5. The abbreviation Mrs. was originally a contraction of which longer word?

6. On a children’s TV show first broadcast in 1965, what was operated by Mr. Rusty?

7. Which literary character was found at a London railway station by Mr. and Mrs. Brown?

8. In the Beatrix Potter novel The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, what type of animal was the title character?

9. What did Mrs. Cobbitt sell on the TV show Trumpton?

10. Which two dwarfs from Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs can become Mr. Men from Roger Hargreaves’ series of books by putting “Mr.” in front of their names?

1. Yellow 2. Agnes 3. Head teacher of Grange Hill 4. Dr. Evil (in the Austin Powers films) 5. Mistress (note: Mistress originally applied to married and unmarried women) 6. The Magic Roundabout 7. Paddington Bear 8. A hedgehog 9. Flowers 10. Grumpy and Happy

Before

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N O I T I T E P M O C

Win a pair of tickets to An Evening with Ian McCulloch (Echo & The Bunnymen)

Fri 20th March @ Bedford Corn Exchange Formed in Liverpool in 1978, Echo & the Bunnymen grew to become one of the UK’s most popular indie rock bands from the UK along with the likes of The Smiths, New Order, Teardrop Explodes.

As the Bunnymen they clocked up some of the finest albums of the ‘80s including Porcupine, Heaven Up Here and the iconic Ocean Rain. A rebirth in the 1990s saw a rebirth of the band with another hit ablum, Evergreen. Along the way the band trailed a string of classic

singles such as The Cutter, Seven Seas, Bring on the Dancing Horses, The Killing Moon, Lips Like Sugar and Nothing Lasts Forever.

As part of a low key tour, iconic front man Ian McCulloch will be giving a rare solo performance at Bedford Corn Exchange in a fully seated semi acoustic show and will feature stripped down versions of classic Bunnymen tracks as well as songs from his own solo catalogue, such as Candleland and Ghost Stories.

This is a one off chance to experience the sounds of a true icon of British indie music.

Please note the show will be fully seated and will feature a guest support.

Tickets are £18.50 adv and on sale from www.thepadpresents.com and www.bedfordcornexchange.co.uk To be in with a chance to win a pair of tickets please send your name, address and telephone number to: Ian McCulloch Competition, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Closing date: 14th March 2015

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Time of Year

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

Mother’s Day around the World Mothers deserve attention all year round, so why do we celebrate mothers on one special day - and do other countries follow suit?

The UK Traditionally, on ‘Mothering Sunday’ (the fourth Sunday in Lent) people returned to their baptismal ‘mother church’. As their parents’ home was often nearby, over time the day became a holiday for visiting family.

Flowers were gathered on the way home and mums received Simnel cakes. Observance of Mothering Sunday gradually withered but after its revival in 1920 it spread throughout the Empire, becoming known as Mother’s Day. Around the World Most countries have a Mother’s Day, but origins and traditions vary. Unless stated otherwise, countries below follow U.S. tradition, celebrating on the second Sunday in May. In France, American soldiers introduced their Mother’s Day during the First World War. Originally focussed on fertile mothers, today Fête des Mères celebrates all mothers, who traditionally receive a cake shaped like a bouquet of flowers. France celebrates on the last Sunday in May, as does Sweden, where the

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Red Cross sells plastic flowers in aid of deprived mothers.

In Nepal, children return to the family home on “Aama ko Mukh Herne Din” (“to see Mother’s face”) on the last day of Baishak dark fortnight, making breakfast for their mothers and giving them gifts, favourite foods and new clothes. Those who have lost mothers visit Mata Tirtha, a sacred site with a pool in which they ‘look upon their mother’s face’.

The USA didn’t keep English Mother’s Day, but Anna Jarvis campaigned for one in honour of her mother, who introduced “Mothers’ Friendship Day” after the Civil War. At a church service on the second anniversary of her mother’s death (the second Sunday of May), Anna distributed her mother’s favourite flowers: white carnations. Today they signify mothers who have passed away, while coloured carnations honour mothers still living.

In Australia, Mother’s Day grew from Janet Heyden’s campaign to give gifts to lonely inmates of Newington State Home for Women. Schoolchildren in Japan draw pictures of their mothers for a nationwide competition and winning pictures travel the country in a mobile exhibition.

Mexico’s Mother’s Day on 10th May was once a pawn in battles between government and church on modernisation and materialism.

It now celebrates both mothers and the Virgin Mary. Children often arrive at their mother’s house the night before. Traditionally the day starts with mass before mothers are presented with a breakfast of tamales and atole, but many mothers are now treated to breakfast at home, accompanied by a song.

In Paraguay, Mother’s Day is celebrated with Dia de la Patria (Independence Day) on 15th May, to honour Juana María de Lara’s role in winning Paraguay’s independence. Similarly, Bolivia’s Dia de la Madre Boliviana on 27th May commemorates the women killed fighting for independence in the Battle of Coronilla.

In Ethiopia, their ‘Antrosht’ celebration lasts three days, beginning after the rains have ceased (usually October/ November). Traditionally, mothers cook a special meal but daughters provide dairy products, vegetables and spices while sons bring the meat. Afterwards they enjoy traditional songs and dances.

Why not celebrate Mexican-style this year and sing your Mum a song?

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Local News

The Clophill Heritage Trust

Clophill Old Church and Eco Lodges

With the scaffolding having come down just over six months ago, The Clophill Heritage Trust’s exciting project to renovate the old disused parish Church of St Mary, Clophill after it had become a ruin since the 1950s is already being enjoyed by the community and it is hoped that all the necessary work will be completed by the spring.

The English Heritage-owned church was the first ever building to be placed on their ‘at risk’ register. It dates from around 1066 and features consecration marks that predate the fifteenth century. However, following its deconsecration, over the past 60 years it had become a target for anti-social behaviour and vandalism and at one time it was even proposed that it be demolished.

However, the villagers did not want to lose their historic hilltop landmark so they set up the trust – a registered charity - and a long project was begun to save it. As a result, the building has been restored although it was

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decided to leave the main roof open to the air and two viewing platforms constructed in the tower. Now complete, each gives a very different experience of the monument. The belfry level is said to have the feel of a medieval classroom and the top of the tower has a dramatic 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape that takes in Wrest Park, Cainhoe Castle, Chicksands Priory and Shuttleworth . It is intended to install interpretation and learning boards in May of this year.

Nesting kestrels have already returned to the monument and it is hoped to construct a roosting barn to attract tawny owls. Tours are available.

In the grounds, the final touches are being made by volunteers and supporters to purpose-build eco lodges for visitors and walkers of the Greensand Ridge. Described as innovative in their design, they will provide a learning and recreation centre for visitors to the area with the opportunity to stay in them. Unfortunately, due to changes in funding legislation,

the charity now needs to find another £100,000 to complete the community area. Any donations would therefore be most welcome and can be made via the website at the end of this article.

Courses are also being run at the facility on interesting and diverse environmental topics such as ‘Woodland Skills - An Introduction to Coppicing’ and ‘Bird of Prey Photography’. The next course is ‘The Guided Geology Trail’ on Friday 20th March from 10am until 2pm at a cost of only £3. You can learn about the landscape of old Bedfordshire and how its diverse geology has led to the many human developments and changes. The following month, on 9th and 10th April there will be ‘Introduction to Willow Weaving’ and ‘Willow Weaving Development’ courses where both adults and children can learn this craft.

For more information visit www.ClophillEcoLodges.org.uk Bookings can be made at info@ClophillHeritage.org.

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The East Anglian

Exhibition

Model Railway Exhibition Sat 14th & Sun 15th March 2015 After only two years, the East Anglian Model Railway Exhibition has outgrown Huntingdon Racecourse and so this year the event is moving to the Wood Green Animal Charity Centre in Godmanchester.

The new 2015 venue, The Britten Arena at the Wood Green Animal Charity Centre near Godmanchester is just 2 minutes from the A14, junction 24, providing easy access from all of the major roads. This international size indoor arena provides 1625sq metres (17,491sq feet) of usable space all on one level and ducted warm air heating. There is gallery seating, easy disabled access, good refreshment facilities and ample, free parking areas.

This is not a Toy and Train Fair with people just selling items. This is a great chance to see 37 excellent model railway layouts from across the country in different gauges and purchase the much needed ready to run items or build your own items from some of our 24 traders. You can also learn how to do various modelling techniques from our 8 demonstrators. With outdoor attractions and the many other facilities to see at Wood Green it

This wonderfully restored double deck bus will be running a free service between Wood Green and Huntingdon railway station.

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The Worlds End model railway layout has never before been seen in a public show.

Be among the first to see this beautiful layout at the East Anglian Model Railway Exhibition.

will be a great day out. There is an opportunity for children to operate Thomas trains on one of the layouts and as Sunday 15th March is Mothering Sunday why not bring the whole family, save Mum cooking and enjoy the Sunday Carvery in the Wood Green Restaurant.

There will be a free vintage double-deck bus service running between Wood Green and Huntingdon Railway Station.

This stunning event will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 14th, and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday15th. Admission prices are: Adults £7; Children £4; and Family (2+2) £20.

You can avoid the queues by purchasing advance tickets form the website, www.stneotsmrc.com

Huntingdon Mayor, Bill Hensley with a traction engine.

Photo from our 2014 show by Helen Drake courtesy of Hunts Post.

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Travel

by Solange Hando

Sète - Water Jousting Between the vast lagoon of Thau and the blue waters of the Med. in the south of France, Sète is a delightful place crisscrossed by canals where myriad boats tie up along the quays. Quaint flower-draped bridges span the water, seafood restaurants set up their tables in the shade and pastel-coloured lanes climb up the hill for spectacular views.

But the ‘Little Venice of Languedoc’ comes into its own at the height of summer when water jousting is in full swing, staging over 50 tournaments across the region. Most prestigious of all is the heavyweight Grand Prix held in Sète on the feast of St Louis.

Tingling with anticipation, crowds gather early on the banks of the Royal Canal to watch the opening parade and the first ‘pass of honour’ when opponents exchange the traditional handshake and if they know each other well, a resounding kiss on the cheek in true French style. Two boats will compete, one red, one blue, each one with an oboist and a drummer playing traditional melodies in the bow to set the tone for the long-awaited festival. With their beribboned straw hats, they look straight out of a Venetian painting. Meanwhile, the White Knights take up their positions, 10 on each boat, most of them fishermen, entirely neutral but the strongest fastest oarsmen you’ve ever seen.

Captain at the helm, the first star jouster climbs on the pedestal rising at the stern two metres above the water while others wait in line for their turn.

All is set for action, shield protecting the jouster’s chest, long wooden spear with steel tips held tight

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under the right arm.

Oboists and drummers break into a frenzy, excitement mounts on all sides and the red and blue boats race furiously towards each other, ready to send the first jouster diving into the water. Which will it be, the blue, the red, both of them maybe? No problem, a small fleet of motor boats buzzes around, ready to pluck the unfortunate fully soaked heavyweight out of the deep. Sometimes a burly jouster will miss the water altogether and drop like a stone into the opponents’ boat. Oh la la…

The crowds cheer, laugh, clap, the judges scribble copious notes for it isn’t just about getting wet or staying dry; speed, accuracy and respect for the rules matter too.

At the end of the day, the winner will receive the best prize of all, ‘immortality’, just like a god, when his name is inscribed on the jousting shield, as per tradition for the past 348 years. Sète held its first jousting tournament on 29th July 1666 to mark the foundation of the harbour which would be linked to the Canal du Midi, then at the planning stage.

In the early days of jousting, the blue boat was for bachelors, the red one for married men. Today colours denote different districts but wherever you come from, being a jouster is like belonging to a brotherhood, You are upholding an ancient tradition which reflects the very soul of Sète, a city on water where future generations train with pride in the local jousting school. Colourful, exciting and free to watch, jousting in Sète is one of the most exciting festivals in Languedoc.

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Health

Quit While You’re Ahead

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

March 14th is National No Smoking Day and there is ever-increasing evidence about the damage smoking can do to you: • The health problems: cancers (lung, larynx, lips, tongue, throat, oesophagus, stomach, kidneys, bladder, pancreas, testicles, cervix), emphysema, angina, heart attack, heart disease, stroke, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, pleurisy, liver damage, high blood pressure, circulation problems and gangrene leading to amputation, hair loss, hearing loss, glue ear, eye irritation, cataracts, gum disease, blindness, loss of sense of smell, osteoporosis, impotence, deformed or low mobility sperm, reduced fertility, miscarriage, low birth-weight babies and premature aging.

• You risk causing all these diseases in those you love. Smoking around them increases their risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%. Children’s under-developed immune systems and faster breathing make them particularly vulnerable. Smoke toxins linger in a smoker’s breath and for two hours in the air, so smoking in another room doesn’t eliminate risk - and we now know that carcinogens and irritants adhere to hair, clothing, furniture, objects and floors in a room, putting babies at the chewing, crawling stage at risk.

• You’ll save money and smell more pleasant.

Helping You Quit Withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, irritability, insomnia, headache, depression, difficulty concentrating, dizziness and constipation usually peak 24 hours after your last cigarette, before easing off over 2-4 weeks. Ultimately, like any drug addict, smokers smoke not to feel better but to feel normal. That’s why you may need support.

Counselling/Addiction Groups Local advisers from the NHS Stop Smoking Service can offer support, and you’re four times more likely to quit with their help. Visit http://www.nhs. uk/smokefree/help-and-advice/local-supportservices-helplines or ask your GP. Nicotine Replacement Therapy NRT can help you defeat nicotine addiction gradually, without those other toxic cigarette

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ingredients: benzene and acetone (solvents); cadmium (used in batteries); cyanide and arsenic (well-known poisons); formaldehyde (dead body preserver); tar; ammonia; shellac and carbon monoxide (which sticks to your blood, robbing you of oxygen and straining your heart).

NRT can greatly increase your chances of quitting smoking successfully and there are a range of products available on prescription or to buy. Some can be combined for your ideal dose and coverage.

• Patches: release a steady dose of nicotine into your bloodstream. They’re very discreet and come in a range of doses and types.

• Gum: gives a burst of nicotine when you are craving a cigarette.

• Lozenges and soluble sublingual tablets (microtabs which dissolve under the tongue).

• Inhalators: Similar to a cigarette, they’re ideal if you find the habit of holding a cigarette hard to break.

• Nasal sprays: usually best suited to heavy smokers, they rapidly deliver a strong dose of nicotine. Research suggests they may be the most effective type of NRT. Other medication These prescription-only medications are only available to over-18s and aren’t suitable for everyone. Ensure your doctor is aware of your medical history, current mental or physical problems and medications. They don’t contain nicotine but help you overcome addiction.

• Zyban (Bupropion Hydrochloride): Taken 1-2 weeks before you plan to quit and continued for around 2 months, it helps to relieve withdrawal symptoms.

• Champix (Varenicline): also started 1-2 weeks before your planned quit date and continued for around 10 weeks. It reduces nicotine cravings and also decreases the ‘hit’ when you do have a cigarette.

So now you know your options, why not try to make March 14th YOUR No Smoking Day? Good luck!

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Let us help you get your business off to a flying start VILLAGER The

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Our award winning magazines offer a unique local advertising platform. Printed on high quality paper we are still able to offer incredible prices along with a second-to-none service, professional advert design and a team just waiting to help you.

With over 9,500 copies being delivered door to door every month can your business wait any longer to be in The Villager?

Advertising in The Villager and Town Life could not be easier, for further information or to book your advertising space please call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com or visit our website www.villagermag.com

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Pilates

Pilates Part two

Pilates for Beginners

In the February issue you may remember I explained all about the history of Pilates and that practicing regularly can help improve your mobility, posture, flexibility, strength and make you feel good! If you haven’t already visited my Facebook page please do and check out some other exercises and interesting facts about Pilates.

Here’s a beginner exercise to get you started.

It’s called a Roll Down and is designed to help increase mobility in the spine and stretch your hamstrings - the muscles that run along the back of your legs. This is what two of my clients, who live in Little Paxton and are both in their seventies, have to say about the way that practising Roll Downs regularly has helped them: “We started with lessons at home so that we could join a class later if we wished. We go at our own pace with Trudy who is very kind and patient and gradually adds more exercises as we get more confident and progress. This way we are warm and comfortable and as we enjoy this format we may well continue with it rather than joining a class. The benefits are very gradual but we are noticeably less creaky and can actually bend and stretch a lot more easily, especially picking things up from the floor and reaching to

get things down from the cupboards, which had previously been an effort.”

Before you begin: Start by standing tall with your feet hip-width apart, shoulders down and relaxed and looking straight ahead. In Pilates we always breathe fully and deeply, inhaling through the nose and exhaling out through the mouth. Begin with a deep breath in through the nose to prepare and exhale as you move into the exercise.

The Roll Down: • Begin by standing with your feet hip-width apart and your spine in a neutral position.

Your legs and feet should be parallel to each other. Let your arms relax along the sides your body.

• Inhale and lengthen your spine as you prepare to move. Scoop in your abs (abdominal muscles) and keep them pulled in throughout the exercise.

• In one exhalation, tuck in your chin and lengthen the back of your neck. Nod your head forward and let your shoulders also drop forward as you start bending your knees slightly; continue rolling your entire spine forward and down, one vertebra at a time.

Roll down as far as you can comfortably go while keeping your neck, head, and shoulders relaxed. Your arms should dangle from your shoulders.

• Keeping your abs scooped and your body draped forward, inhale and tuck your pelvis slightly. Then exhale and begin to reverse the movement, slowly rolling back up, one vertebra at a time. Keep your navel pulled in deeply as you roll your torso back upright.

• Return to your starting position. Then repeat the move 5-10 times.

By Trudy Cambridge

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25

Health

Pass (on) the Salt National Salt Awareness Week 16th-22nd March 2015 marks the 16th National Salt Awareness Week. Research tells us that a high dietary salt intake is associated with the development of high blood pressure, and an increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Note the word ‘high’ in the previous statement. Average salt consumption in this country is about 8.5g per person per day. This is about one and a quarter teaspoons. I know this because I measured it out and believe me, it doesn’t look a lot. So why all the fuss about reducing our intake by what amounts to just about half a teaspoon?

Salt is composed of 40 percent Sodium and 60 percent Chloride. We need Sodium because it regulates water in the body, and helps in the transfer of electrical impulses along our nerve fibre system. But just 1g of salt per day would be sufficient to carry out all these functions. At 950 percent of the required daily amount 9.5g does seem suddenly like a very big number.

Salt raises the blood pressure because Sodium

encourages the body to retain more water. This increased volume of water in the blood vessels creates higher pressure. Once you have high blood pressure you are more likely to develop heart disease, which is one of the leading killers in Britain today.

So, is it just a matter of leaving the salt cellar in the cupboard when we lay the table? Well no: about 75 percent of salt is hidden in processed foods. Brits eat more crisps than the rest of Europe combined, and with each packet, up to 1g of salt!

Processed meats, cheese, cereals, bread and ready meals are also high in salt. That’s the bad news – so what can we do about it?

Well, we can read the labels and choose foods with the lowest amount of salt. Studies have shown that by reducing our salt intake along with saturated fat, and by increasing our intake of fruit, vegetables and low fat dairy foods like yoghurt, we can reduce our blood pressure. Ideally, this should be combined with maintaining a healthy weight, limiting our alcohol consumption, and increasing our physical activity levels.

It sounds straightforward, but in reality we all need a little push sometimes.

Why not take advantage of a health MOT at your local Fitness club or Health Spa. Most have facilities for measuring blood pressure and body fat, and many have staff qualified to advise on nutrition. You might be inspired to change your lifestyle. Who’d have imagined that reducing salt intake by just half a teaspoon per day would reap such big rewards. Now that’s got to be food for thought...just don’t add salt!

By Louise Addison

Before 26

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

Rachel Green Experienced, fully qualified Psychologist available for individual therapy sessions in hitchin and surrounding areas.

Contact me on 07790 892754 if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, loss, etc.

Rachel Green 1/4 page.indd 1

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16/01/2015 16:06

27

Well Being

There’s Something in the Air...

Can you sense that change in the atmosphere? A gentle stirring, a delicate lifting of the spirits, a tender beginning of something new... Smile and breathe a sigh of relief because spring is once more here to greet us, as always, bringing the joys of nature alive once more.

After a cold dark winter we can all feel a little weary and perhaps disheartened with New Year’s resolutions which we’ve not kept. Returning home in the darkness after work followed by awaking the next morning to equal darkness can also be depressing and draining. So for all those whose good intentions have already fallen by the wayside, or those who just need to feel revived, spring gives us the chance to start again – with Mother Nature on our side this time.

We can find encouragement when there’s a little more sunshine in the day and a little colour in the countryside.

Just as the soil of our gardens and parks is upturned by

28

the growth of new life, so we too can turn things around, whether it’s at work, at home, or in an important relationship.

Just as the new green shoots in the ground miraculously produce hyacinths the colour of precious jewels, so we too can feel empowered to create something new: a new exercise regime, a new craft, or a new way of life. It seems fitting that as the natural world starts afresh at this time of year that we also take the opportunity to make a fresh start.

It’s no wonder that Persian people celebrate their New Year at the beginning of spring, rejoicing in nature beginning again all around them. They enjoy a traditional meal on the day that spring officially begins and then take several days of holiday to visit family, rounding off the thirteen days of festivities with a picnic. Perhaps the British climate will bless us with mild enough weather so that we can visit our favourite outdoor space and do the same? Indeed

By Nooshin Hassan

the village of Thriplow has been celebrating spring for years with their annual Daffodil Weekend - an event which really brings the community together and attracts thousands of tourists to enjoy the open gardens, local food and live music.

It’s impossible not to feel rejuvenated by the appearance of clouds of pink and white blossom on the trees, the longer days and the sweet fresh fragrance in the air. There’s a sense of excitement and it’s as though the world is full of opportunities. It’s a chance for us to re-energise and renew any plans or commitments.

Above all, it’s time to get out and enjoy all the wonders of nature around us. So whether you decide to tackle part of the Greensand Ridge Walk (views from the Ampthill Park section are “tremendous”) or simply head into your garden to pick some spring flowers (there is something incredibly cheerful about a vase of bright daffodils in the house), embrace it.

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DEVINE HYPNOTHERAPY IS YOUR LIFE OUT OF CONTROL??

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31

Couples Counsellor

Helen’s Helpful Hints

No. 8 - Do you feel like you are walking on eggshells when you are with your partner?

How can you tell if your relationship is showing signs of being abusive?

Does your partner want to spend more and more time alone with you, making it difficult for you to see your family or friends? Are you a bit scared of your partner and feel that you need to agree with him or her to keep the peace? Are you kept short of money? Is your self-esteem deteriorating because of put downs from your partner?

Do treat these as warning signs that could lead to more controlling and violent behavior and seek help early.

The difference between a heated disagreement between a couple and abuse is that the latter is about one person controlling the other. There is a

perpetrator and a victim.

Coercive behaviour in a relationship whereby one person seeks to control the other is not love. These behaviors may be physical, sexual, psychological or economic abuse. The longer it goes on for the harder it is to get out of. ACT NOW. If you need help do give me a call.

I am a couple counsellor who trained with Relate and have 29 years experience. Before you decide, you can have up to a half hour free counselling on the telephone or on Skype so that you can assess if counselling is right for you.

Call me, Helen Springer for an appointment.

I can fix a fee to suit your pocket.

Telephone 01462 713685.

Email sprinsib@globalnet.co.uk Located in Pirton Herts. www.counsellorsandcounselling.co.uk Or email helen@experiencedcounsellors.com website: www.experiencedcounsellors.com

Experienced Sales People Required to join our team

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 Flexible position  Working from home  Hours to suit  All expenses covered  Commission only role with great earning potential If interested please send or email your current CV to: Nigel Frost, Villager Publications Ltd., 24 Market Square, Potton SG19 2SG Email: nigel@villagermag.com 32

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EBAY COLLECTIONS

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Local & Reliable

33

y

It Happens e r fo e B

pe

rt

Flash Flooding Can Happen Anywhere

ro P r Protect You

Last autumn and winter (2013/14) was a particularly wet year and last January was the wettest since records began in 1766 causing significant flooding in counties across the UK. Sudden, heavy downpours can cause flash flooding; surface water drains can become overwhelmed and rivers, streams and lakes can overflow.

FIND OUT about the dangers of flooding where you live BEFORE flooding begins.

SIGN UP for free flood warning messages

from the Environment Agency and receive phone, text or email messages about when flooding is expected.

WRITE a Flood Plan about what you will do

ENSURE your house insurance protects your home and your belongings against flooding.

Information about your flood risk and advice on how to flood proof your home is available from the BLLRF and Environment Agency websites.

For more information visit www.bllrf.org.uk.

For information on flood protection products: www.bluepages.org.uk To check your flood risk and register for flood alerts: www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood – or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

if there is a flood. Advice and a self-complete template is available from the Environment Agency website.

PREPARE your home in case of flooding.

WIN

Sandbags are not the most effective or efficient WIN a FREE emergency way to do this. They are not provided by local kit worth £50 – to enter authorities or emergency services for private properties, as their focus is upon protecting life just visit www.bllrf.org.uk and roads, community buildings and utilities.

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BLLRF

Businesses Are Not Testing Their

Emergency Plans

Businesses who want to test their ability to survive a crisis like a major fire, power cut or a flu epidemic can make use of free resources from the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum (BLLRF) during Business Continuity Awareness Week (16-20 March).

Because many companies in Bedfordshire and Luton at risk from a major emergency do not test their business continuity plans they do not know if they will actually work when needed. Often business continuity plans are drawn up, put in a desk drawer and not used until a crisis strikes. Any omissions or mistakes only come to light during an actual emergency – when it might be too late.

Figures from the Business Continuity Institute show that only 39% of companies actually test their business continuity plans and another half admit they will not test them in 2015.

To make it easy for organisations to check whether their plans work BLLRF will be hosting a free and simple “table top” exercise in March to coincide with Business Continuity Awareness Week (BCAW).

Tony Green, Luton Borough Council’s Emergency Planning Officer, said “Any plan is only as good as its last test. If you don’t test your business continuity plans, how do you know it will work when you need it?

“Using our simple desk top scenarios companies will be able to simulate emergency situations that might affect their business to discover if their Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

current plan works. Does it protect vital assets?

Does it enable your business to carry on? Will it save you money if disaster strikes?

“A plan that looks good on paper but doesn’t work in reality is something you don’t want to discover during a real emergency. Testing your plan now also gets your emergency team actively involved in understanding how your business might respond in a real crisis.”

The simulated scenarios will include the effect of a fire, flu pandemic or a power cut upon a business and will help those taking part work to out how they can keep their company in business and weather the crisis.

Bedfordshire businesses can test their BC plans during BCAW 2015 by downloading a scenario that could affect their business and a series of “injects” to be used during the day/week to test their reaction to an evolving emergency situation.

Bedfordshire businesses can also get advice from emergency experts at the Business Expo on 16 April 2015 at Bedford Corn Exchange.

Start planning for emergencies now, visit www.bllrf.org.uk

35

TEMPLARS CROSS LODGE www.templarscrosslodge.co.uk Close to Baldock town centre in spacious surroundings this motel style Bed & Breakfast offers off road parking.

• 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

WobuRn FoResT HoLiday ViLLage

Housekeeping oppoRTuniTies nestled in a 365 acre forest, Woburn Forest boasts beautiful undulating forest landscapes, the largest subtropical swimming paradise, magical views over the lake and forest with modern Lodges bringing guests closer to nature.

We have a variety of housekeeping positions with flexible hours to fit around your lifestyle and there are contracts available from early mornings to school hours. Transport is available for some of our positions in the local area.

To apply for a housekeeping position or any of our other vacancies visit centerparcscareers.co.uk, click on Job Search, then choose the Woburn location.

Center Parcs, Woburn Forest Holiday Village, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2HZ

at Center parcs, we want our people to share in the success their hard work brings, enjoy a sense of wellbeing and a good lifestyle, and make the most of their time with us.

We offer unique benefits such as: • discounted Center parcs breaks • day visitor passes • Free use of village facilities

www.centerparcs.co.uk

36

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Technology

Computer Encryption

By Kam Patel

Helping you get to know your personal computer.

Information stored on computers is valuable and sometimes you or your employer doesn’t want someone having access to this data. We’ve read or heard stories about USB memory sticks going missing, laptops being left in the back of a taxi or break-ins where computer equipment has been stolen. What can you do to protect the data on these devices? Encryption.

What is Encryption?

Encryption is a way to secure data by scrambling the information so that it can only be accessed with the correct encryption key. When I purchased my Windows 8 laptop, the first thing I thought about was protection. Windows 8 comes with an application called BitLocker Drive Encryption. The laptop I use has a single hard drive of 700GB. I ran the program and it provided me with 350GB of

encrypted drive, and this is where I store all my personal files. In order for me to access it, I need to enter a password. If I forget, then I have to enter a recovery key that was created at the time of the encryption which is kept safe. I also use BitLocker to encrypt USB memory sticks so if I have to take any sensitive information out with me I know that this is secure as well.

For operating systems without built-in encryption you can purchase encryption software, but I have come across a free open-source program called TrueCrypt. http://www.truecrypt.org/ Find out more at http://windows.microsoft.com/engb/windows-8/bitlocker-drive-encryption

Martin Lewis is not the only person that can help you save money!

The team at Will Trust and Protect are money saving experts too!

We want to make sure that the families in our area benefit from our expert advice.

If you want to pay lower taxes to the government, reduce monthly premiums on your insurance plans and get the best interest rate available on your mortgage, then speak to us today and we will provide you with the solution that will fit your needs.

WILL TRUST &

PROTECT Will/Trust Advice You decide where your money and children go, not the government.

Lasting Power of Attorney If you become incapacitated, you choose who decides your future.

Inheritance Tax Advice Stop the government taxing your family again after your death.

Insurance Advice We’ll help you find better cover and cheaper premiums.

Mortgage Advice We will find you the best mortgage rate available in today’s market.

Conveyancing We will price-match legal costs for buying and selling your home.

Please call us on 01462 615233 to arrange a convenient time for an informal consultation or email info@willtrustandprotect.co.uk You can visit us Monday to Saturday at Will Trust & Protect, 17a High Street, Shefford, Bedfordshire SG17 5DD YOUR HOME IS AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

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37

Reassurance when you need it most

Neville Funeral Service

Neville Funeral Service

24 Clifton Road Sheord SG17 5AE t: 01462 813258 e: sheord@nevillefuneralservice.com

96 Walsworth Road Hitchin SG4 9SU t: 01462 444910 e: hitchin@nevillefuneralservice.com

(inc George Squire & Son since 1976)

(inc David J. Binks since 2005)

www.nevillefuneralservice.com 38

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Employment

Employment Matters Look out! The HMRC are about One of the essential employment issues for all small employers to get absolutely right – and particularly micro employers - is the exact detail of their workers’ employment status.

Whether people who work for you are employed or self-employed is not a matter of choice and it depends on the nature of the role and the terms and conditions of that role that dictates their employment status.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are constantly on the lookout for ‘disguised employees’: that is those who claim self-employed status but are in fact employees.

In an effort not to pay NICs and PAYE, some employers will say the employee is self-employed, or casual, or temporary and it is important that every employer is aware of the clear criteria HMRC publishes to correctly determine employment status.

Self-employed: • they can decide what work they do and when, where or how to do it, • they can hire someone else to do the work • they can work for more than one client Employee: • they can’t send someone else to do their work • the business deducts PAYE and NICs from their wages • they have a contract of employment Casual worker: The term casual worker is normally used to refer to individuals who work on an ad hoc basis as ‘bank staff’ or waitresses, bar staff, and security staff at nightclubs.

• There is no obligation on the employer to offer any work • There is no obligation on the worker or on the claimants to accept any Clearly someone working five days a week full time in a business is not ’casual’.

Temporary If not supplied by an agency, a ‘temporary’ worker in a company is usually working on a short term or fixed term contract of employment.

Why should it matter to you, the employer?

From August last year HM Revenue and Customs took the decision to name and shame individuals who are car dealers, electricians and hairdressers publicly on its website.

Defaulters have been pulled up for evasion across a range of taxes including NI and PAYE including a couple who owed £78,557 while running an electrical installation and repairs business; a Yorkshire-based hairdresser who owes £19,000; the owner of an off-licence who must pay back £21,500; and a farmer who was given a penalty of around £10,000.

If you have any workers claiming to be selfemployed, casual, temporary or any other status, do check and make sure that HMRC can’t come knocking on your door and avoid having fines, adverse publicity and your company name at the top of their list for the next decade as a business worth visiting on a regular basis.

Carol H Scott HR & Business Consulting Ltd

39

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Garden

Facing North

By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com

The problem I am asked about most frequently is that of what to do with a north-facing wall.

Everyone wants to know what you can plant up it but more importantly, what you can do to increase the chances of your chosen plant not just surviving but also thriving.

Getting the right plant for the spot is essential and I’ve listed some great north-facing wall climbers below. But first consider whether you need year round cover (and so something evergreen) or would accept a deciduous climber that will lose its leaves but keep a framework of stems, or if you could live with an herbaceous climber that will die back each year and return again in the spring.

If the wall is very shaded it may be worth reducing the shade if you can. Nearby wall-shrubs could be pruned back or overhanging trees crown lifted (the lower branches removed) or crown thinned (the crown’s density reduced).

Walls may be a dark grey or brick colour but you can make the spot considerably more plant friendly if you change the colour of the wall before planting. A pale-coloured masonry paint on the wall will cause light to be reflected back to the plant and make it more likely to thrive.

Consider growing more than one climber to increase the season of interest and so the amount of time that the wall looks good.

Flowering may be reduced if the site is gloomy and so to maximise your climber’s flower power make sure that you apply sulphate of potash as this will increase flowering potential. Follow the instructions on the pack, and generally try to apply it to the root area in late summer and then again in spring.

Make sure that the climber goes in at a good

42

distance from the wall up which it is to grow. A minimum of about 45cm (18in) should mean that it can develop a good strong root system and this will help to keep it growing well.

Self-clinging climbers such as the climbing hydrangea or a variegated ivy can look great and help to provide at least part of the interest you’re after for your north-facing wall, but even these often need a bit of a helping hand to get them started – train the stems on to the wall and protect from wind until they get properly attached.

TOP PLANTS FOR NORTH-FACING WALLS Akebia quinata. Pretty pale green foliage with vanilla perfumed purple-brown flowers in late spring.

Berberidopsis coralline. Prefers acidic soil, clusters of deep red flowers in early autumn.

Clematis. Many smaller flowered varieties such as white flowered, rampant C. montana do well.

Codonopsis convolvulacea. Pretty bell or saucer shaped violet coloured flowers in summer.

Humulus lupulus (the hop). The golden leafed ‘Aurea’ will perform quite well as long as the shade is not too intense or the site windy.

Hydrangea anomela petiolaris A deciduous climber with broad creamy white flowerheads.

Lathyrus latifolius. the everlasting pea. Small clusters of pinky purple flowers throughout the summer and in to early autumn Lonicera x Americana. Classic honeysuckle flowers in yellow flushed red and with a gorgeous perfume during the summer.

Lonicera x tellamanniana. Bright yellowy orange honeysuckle flowers in late spring and summer.

Vitis coignetiae. Renowned for its fabulous autumn colour.

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43

Gardening a Pain?

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RSPB

Nature returns to local quarries A European-wide quarry restoration project is highlighting the community benefits of international co-operation and stakeholder partnerships in restoring biodiversity.

In January of this year, international partners in the RESTORE Project - a European quarryrestoration initiative led by the RSPB – visited quarries that are being restored in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, and they highlighted the vital role international co-operation and industry partnerships can play in conserving wildlife.

Representatives of seven organisations visited Hanson-RSPB Ouse Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire and Sandy Heath quarry in Bedfordshire, where mineral companies are working with the RSPB to successfully restore the sites for wildlife.

RESTORE project co-ordinator, Bea Ayling, said: “Bringing organisations together to share knowledge and expertise across national borders is essential if we are to make the most of the opportunities for biodiversity restoration presented by the mineral extraction industry.”

Quarries cover an area of more than 250,000 hectares in north-west Europe and after they have reached the end of their working lives, their restoration can contribute significantly to the environment and flood risk alleviation. They also provide recreational centres for local communities where people can connect with and enjoy nature on their doorsteps.

At Ouse Fen in Cambridgeshire, the RSPB and mineral extraction company Hanson are 10 years into a 30-year project to progressively restore 700 hectares of working sand and gravel quarry to wetland and grassland habitats following extraction. When complete, the site will contain

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the largest reed bed in the UK, and it has already been colonised by the elusive bittern, with six females nesting there in 2014.

Meanwhile, a partnership between the RSPB and LaFarge Tarmac has seen the restoration of 15 hectares of heathland at Sandy Heath on Bedfordshire’s Greensand Ridge following the extraction of sand at the site. It is projected that there will be approximately 30 hectares of heathland habitat created at the site in the next ten to twenty years.

The resulting area of heathland - a national priority habitat - houses all sorts of rare wildlife including a wide range of endangered invertebrates such as the spider-eating wasp, recorded for the first time ever in England in 2012. In time, it is hoped the creation of wildlife habitat at the quarry may attract the likes of the nightjar - another heathland-loving species.

“Creating habitats like those at Ouse Fen and Sandy Heath is one of the surest ways to enhance biodiversity on a truly landscape scale, helping to extend and link existing wildlife sites and reconnect people with nature,” said Nigel Symes, Head of the RSPB’s Business Advice Unit and RESTORE Project Manager.

RESTORE, which is funded through the EU’s INTERREG IVB project, aims to promote organisations across north-west Europe that can continue this work, and the local success of Ouse Fen and Sandy Heath is already being hailed as a prime example of what can be achieved for other sites in the UK and on the continent.

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Hobbies

Why cards are still king when you want to play Fancy a game of Strip Jack Naked? Or maybe Black Maria? What about a quick hand of Snip Snap Snorum?

If these activities sound strange you may be relieved to discover that they are all card games whose rules are now lost in the mists of time, but it’s probably no surprise to find that some games have fallen out of fashion over the centuries. What is surprising is that card games have managed to survive at all in this age of virtual gaming.

The fact that card games have lasted into the 21st century speaks volumes about the enduring power of playing cards to fascinate and entertain us. It’s now widely believed that they were invented in China: some of the earliest references to card playing by the Chinese nobility date as far back as the 9th century. Because they were light and easy to transport, traders carried decks of cards abroad and so the fashion rapidly spread to Egypt, Persia and India.

Card games eventually reached Europe in the 15th century.

During this period the Italians invented the Tarot deck, which saw an additional set of trump cards added to the

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standard deck. These were used as ordinary playing cards until the 18th century, when they also began to be used for fortune-telling.

The Georgians and Victorians were keen card players and favourite games included Whist, Ecarte, Faro and Loo. In the early 20th century games such as Pontoon, Gin Rummy, Canasta and Contract Bridge became popular but the interest in card games began to fade in the second half of that century as television and other distractions tempted people to abandon their social gaming habits.

It’s good to know that in spite of computers and the internet (or perhaps because of them) card gaming is once more growing in popularity, but in addition to online gaming, people are also coming together to play socially. As well as old favourites such as Poker and Bridge, there’s a huge interest in collectible card games, where players use specially designed sets of playing cards and trade their cards during a game.

You can find a list of local clubs at www.orcsnest. com/clubs.htm and www.ukgmn.co.uk or alternatively ask at your local library. Many pubs now host informal groups playing card games such as Cribbage or Poker, so it’s worth asking the landlord of your local pub if they have card playing evenings.

If you can’t find a local group that meets your needs, you could consider setting up your own club. A pub or local café may be the ideal place to get together, but do check with the owner to see if they have any objections before setting up a meeting. This is particularly important if you want to play for money, as the premises may not be licensed for gambling.

If you are joining – or starting – a club you’ll find it’s a good way to make new friends who share your passion. It’s also a great way to exercise your brain.

So many different games … so many ways to play them. When you consider that all this potential can be found in just 52 pieces of printed paper, it’s no wonder that card games have managed to retain their appeal over thousands of years.

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Wildlife

Damselflies & Demoiselles

As well as mayflies and lacewings, damselflies and demoiselles are other species of dramatic net-winged creatures that can be seen regularly in wildlife gardens. One attraction is a wildlife pond; these bring all sorts of net-winged insects, even if the gardens are situated a little way from rivers.

In ponds, damselfly aquatic nymphs spend about two years at the muddy bottom, waiting for tiny creatures to come their way. Then with lightening speed, the nymph shoots out its mouth parts to grab and eat the unsuspecting prey. The nymphs climb out of the pond for the final stage of their life cycle by using marginal plants and lilies.

When I have seen damselflies or demoiselles early in the morning, I have witnessed them warming up their bodies by basking in the sun. I often think that they are using their translucent net wings to gain strength from solar energy. Damselflies have the smallest bodies of the dragonfly family. They have the same structure as all dragonflies with a long, slim body with four translucent membrane wings which culminate in a delicate net-like structure.

Damselflies have one of nature’s most unusual mating rituals. It begins when the female uses her wings to signal to her selected partner that she is ready for

mating. The coupling position seems awkward and excruciating. The male locks the rear of his abdomen onto the back of her neck, then she loops her tail forward and locks onto the male’s chest which forms a heart shaped pattern.

Sometimes the male persists with this bond while she lays her fertile eggs. He does this because he wants to be sure that the female is not intercepted by another male who could then replace his sperm with a new mating. In this way he guarantees that the eggs she lays will produce his progeny.

The female usually descends towards the bottom of the pond using a water plant where she lays her eggs. She remains underwater long enough by creating air bubbles around her body which she uses to breathe whilst submerged. She injects her fertilised eggs into the centre of the plant’s stem, from which larvae will eventually emerge as aquatic nymphs. Laying eggs is a

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By Andy Mydellton

dangerous task for a female damselfly because if she runs out of air bubbles, she will drown.

Other dangers include being eaten by spiders and other pond predators.

I have witnessed Blue Tailed Damselflies at Millstream Fork more often than other species probably because they prefer gardens and ponds. The Large Red is the second most common damselfly visiting the garden while scarcer sights include the Azure and the Common Blue. It is worth noting that these three species all prefer clear streams, such as the millstream, as well as the river from which it flows. The Banded Demoiselle is the most commonly seen species in this group. They can be distinguished by their 45mm blue body stems and large dark blue spots on each of their four wings.

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Food and Drink

Seasonal Delights Smoked Haddock Kedgeree

Serves 4 Ready in 45 minutes Just a few ingredients are needed to make this simple rice dish but it’s full of flavour! It’s ideal for a quick and easy supper or filling weekend brunch served with crusty bread or warmed mini naan breads, if liked.

INGREDIENTS 350g smoked haddock fillet 4 large eggs 1 tbsp sunflower oil 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed ½ tsp ground coriander ½ tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp mild curry powder 300g easy-cook basmati rice 3tbsp fresh chopped coriander 1 Place the haddock in a large pan, cover with plenty of cold water and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5-6 minutes until the fish just flakes. Boil the eggs in a small pan of water for 7-8 minutes.

2 Remove the fish with a slotted spoon and flake the flesh discarding any skin and 52

bones. Strain the cooking liquid into a jug – you’ll need about 600ml so top up with water if needed. Run the boiled eggs under cold water until cool enough to handle.

Remove the shells and cut into wedges. Set aside.

3 Heat the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the onion and garlic over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes until softened. Stir in the spices and cook for 1 minute then add the basmati rice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

Gradually pour in the reserved stock and bring to the boil.

4 Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring occasionally. Gently stir in the flaked haddock, eggs and coriander and heat through for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

TIP - Add a large handful of baby spinach leaves or some lightly fried mushrooms just before the end of cooking to make this dish even more substantial.

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Pets

Animal Stories The cost of being a ‘Tom’...

All animal charities, and vets, talk endlessly about the need to neuter our cats – yet too many owners still fail to do this. TJ’s story will hopefully highlight why this simple operation is so important. But first, some facts: Castration, or neutering, is the surgical removal of the testicles. Vets recommend castrating cats between 4-9 months, but it can be done at any age.

An un-neutered male cat is known as a ‘Tomcat’.

Most male cats are castrated to change the normal male cat’s behaviour, which is objectionable to the cat’s owner. The behavioural characteristics that are eliminated, or reduced, by castration are as follows: 1. Sexual – male cats seek out female cats in heat and the mating ritual is usually carried out noisily at night. This not only disturbs the cat’s owner, but can also lead to unhappy relationships with neighbours – and too many unwanted kittens.

2. Roaming – male cats roam, often quite far from home, seeking out females. This increases the dangers of accidents, leads to fighting with other male cats whose territories the roaming cat is intruding upon, and upsets neighbours upon whose property the cat is trespassing.

3. Fighting – a male cat fights over females in heat and also to protect his territory. Fights can include blood-curdling screams and serious wounds can be inflicted. These wounds frequently become infected, leading to abscesses, which can be life-threatening if not treated.

Veterinary treatment of abscesses can become very expensive for the owner of an aggressive male cat, not to mention the danger to the cat’s health from frequent infections. Or your cat might be injuring your neighbour’s cat.

4. Spraying – a male cat marks out his territory by spraying. This spraying is often done in the house, particularly if there is more than one cat in the household. Not only does the urine stain carpets, furniture and the walls, but the objectionable odour and stain are impossible to remove. Your cat will also spray in your neighbour’s house.

5. Appearance – male cats tend to neglect their grooming and are frequently dirty and unattractive. Mature male cats secrete excessive amounts of oil from the top of their tails.

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TJ Before

TJ After 6. Relationship to owners – male cats can make good pets, but the owner is never the primary focus in their lives. A male cat likes to have a home to eat and sleep in and a kindly owner – but will desert all these comforts for a female in heat or if another male cat enters his territory.

Neutering a male cat is an excellent way of helping him grow into a loving, well-adapted pet – rather than the unruly, smelly thug depicted above.

Poor TJ is living proof of the problems caused by failing to castrate. A large Tomcat, TJ was picked up by one of our Inspectors. He was clearly a stray and had a nasty burst abscess on his face – probably caused by fighting with another cat. He was patched up, and neutered, by our great vets and has been lovingly cared for by one of our foster carers.

Despite being a lovely, affectionate boy, it has taken over 7 months for someone to see the big softie behind the tough exterior and decide to adopt him. Whilst other cats came into our care and were quickly re-homed, poor TJ was continuously overlooked.

The true cost of not neutering TJ was not only a difficult, painful – and needlessly lonely – time for him; but extra cost and worry for the RSPCA too.

The hidden costs may also have been unwanted, and perhaps sickly, kittens sired by TJ; other pet cats injured through fighting with him; and probably a lot of sleepless nights for his neighbours caused by his endless fighting.

So, be a responsible pet owner, a good neighbour and a great member of the community. If you have a cat – please get him, or her, neutered.

ANIMAL STORIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch. www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk At the time of going to press, we heard that TJ’s adoption had sadly fallen through. If you could give this lovely boy a new home, please contact the RSPCA North Bedfordshire branch.

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Lambourn MOT and Service Centre Ltd Your LOCAL MoT, tyre and service centre in Shefford

01462 811333 Pay us a visit – we’re near Morrisons!

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www.cranebuildersltd.co.uk 1 PARK LANE – HENLOW – BEDS – SG16 6AT

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James Cullip

Painting & Decorating

• interior/exterior - all aspects • wallpaper hanging • coving • general household maintenance • plastering services available • free estimates • fully insured

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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

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A S Bathrooms are a one stop bathroom shop in which we can supply and fit top brand name products to our customers from our little showroom in STEVENAGE INDOOR MARKET. We have been fitting bathrooms for 23 years and know how to get that showroom finish you are looking for. We have many repeat customers on our books as well as a fantastic reputation.

We offer a free design and no obligation quotation service.

We are a recommended WHICH trusted trader.

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Painting & Decorating Property Maintenance

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Quality Workmanship Papering, Coving etc.

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

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Pets

Kama’s Cave

was eight years young on 1st February this year.

He was named after the darts player Power Phil and had a long racing career at Oxford. When Phil arrived here at the kennels he was a very unhappy boy, he was thin and had fleas and worms, but how things change, now he is a happy go lucky lad who absolutely loves life to the full. He is good on his lead when he is out for walks and he is also small dog friendly. He loves people and really enjoys cuddles and fuss, we really can’t understand why this lovely dog has been with us for so long and no one has offered him a home.

All our greyhounds come with the RGT standard terms – included is a collar, lead and feeding bowl.

All our greyhounds are neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated and come with 4 weeks free insurance with Petplan. MOST IMPORTANTLY there is full back up and support to help you through any problems you might have.

If you can offer Phil or any of our lovely Greyhounds a home then please contact Ann on 01406 330459, ann@kamascave.com All our dogs can be seen on our website www. kamascave.com or our Facebook Page https://www. facebook.com/pages/Kamas-Cave-GreyhoundSanctuary/181010247031

Greyhouond Sanctuary

The Story of Phil Kama’s Cave Greyhound Sanctuary is the East Anglia branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust (registered charity no. 269668). At Kama’s Cave we, aim to give the very best of care to the greyhounds in our kennels. We are willing to rehome our greyhounds to anywhere in England, and beyond! The only requirement is that you must make a trip to visit the kennels here in Lincolnshire to meet the dogs in person. We also have links with Greyhounds In Need Netherlands for anyone in Holland who wishes to rehome a greyhound.

We do our best to leave no stone unturned to help you get the right dog - The dogs are each taken for a time into our house to help house train them and we also ‘small dog test’ the dogs and try to get them out and about as much as possible, so we get to know the dogs inside out, therefore being able to match the correct dog to the right person, in the majority of circumstances.

One of our greyhounds, Phil, is a very special case.

He has been with us for a whopping 744 days, he

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Author Focus

Manners Cost Everything

by Paul Chambers

Bedfordshire author Paul David Chambers is a man who has always loved reading and writing.

Reading became his escape from a severe stutter early on in life, and books provided alternative words that allowed him to avoid the tricky linguistic stumbling blocks.

As a result, his storytelling blossomed.

After various false starts, he has finally started writing again in earnest. Bolstered by positive reviews, he has now taken the leap of faith by giving up the rat race and focusing on a writing career.

His debut crime paperback, Manners Cost Everything was launched last November and is the first of a trilogy. It already has 108 reviews across the globe, 94 of which are five star. His Facebook

page has over 4,000 fans, and the book’s Twitter account @MannersCost has over 7,000 followers.

Manners Cost Everything is a gritty, gory tale focusing on Robbie, a man that develops an alter ego that unbeknown to him, wreaks revenge on anyone that has been disrespectful, ill-mannered or just plain rude. Meanwhile, up and coming Detective Lentus has his world changed forever and devotes his life to hunting down and bringing the mysterious killer to justice while being haunted by the ‘ghost’ of his murdered sister.

Paul writes in Henlow village and is currently working on the follow up book, ghost writing three biographies and plans to publish a children’s book in English and Spanish.

Manners Cost Everything is Available on Amazon Kindle, price £1.99.

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WINDOW REPAIRS

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Travel

A Holiday in Hampshire

By Tim Saunders

A holiday in Hampshire is something to be embraced. The county has some fascinating celebrity links. Peter Sellers was born in Southsea, Jack Dee was educated in Winchester and Jim Davidson lives in Stockbridge and has played at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton - a wonderful art deco venue that has seen many celebrities grace its stage, and which will be showing Barnum throughout 2015. Hampshire is also a popular location to film with Worzel Gummidge and Howard’s Way both shot here; in and around the Wallops and The Hamble, respectively.

This affluent part of the south east is a large county with three cities: Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth. We stay near Wickham, from which it is easy to visit all three. The house is a pleasant Victorian terrace cottage with three bedrooms large enough for us to relax and not get under each other’s feet.

On the day we venture to New Forest Wildlife Park, the weather turns to rain but that doesn’t matter. Even though it’s winter there are still some magnificent butterflies to be seen and all undercover, which is extremely welcome. Our daughters are mesmerised, as are we. By the time we head back outside the weather has slightly improved and we enjoy seeing a surprising variety of wildlife that ranges from otters to wild boar, wallabies and wolves. You certainly don’t expect to see these in Hampshire. Back inside there are ferrets and hedgehogs and even barn owls and badgers.

It’s a real treat for the girls.

On another day we visit Port Solent on the way to Portsmouth and have a relaxing stroll around the complex. It’s the perfect location for a family get together where Harriett and Heidi have a chance to meet up with their grandfather. “This wasn’t here when I was young; the developers have done a good job and there are a variety of shops,” says my father, who lived in Gosport and

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Petersfield in his youth.

Another splendid day out can be found at the Watercress Line at Alresford. The service, maintained by the Mid-Hants Railway Preservation Society, provides a wonderful opportunity for travellers to acquaint themselves with the glorious bygone age of steam. We board at Alresford and it is possible to stop at every station (Medstead, Four Marks and Ropley) along the 10 miles of track running to Alton. We travel on 31806 – SR U Class locomotive.

Designed by R Maunsell it is one of just 50 and was built in 1928 at Brighton Works being withdrawn from service in January 1964.

We all thoroughly enjoy ourselves and Harriett mimics the sound of the train as it makes its way down the track: “Jickety can, jickety can”. We alight at Alton to do some shopping. It’s a little walk into the market town from the railway station but there is enough time for us to amble about and then catch the 31806 back to picturesque Alresford.

Watch the videos at http://www.travelwriter.biz For more information visit: www.newforestwildlifepark.co.uk

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n O s ’ t Wha In March 17 February-7 July Jill Grey - Life & Legacy Exhibition See website for opening times British Schools Museum, 41/42 Queen Street, Hitchin, SG4 2TS Collector, Curator, Code Breaker, Correspondent and Campaigner, Jill’s story, told mainly in her own words, will amaze and inspire you.

A truly remarkable life - A truly remarkable legacy.

Tel: 01462 420144 Web: www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk 1 March Charity Fun Quiz 8pm Five Bells, Henlow Village £2 entry Charity Fun Quiz in aid of The Henlow Village Care Scheme. Teams of up to 8 people. Cash prizes and spot prizes. Raffle Tel: John 01767 680974 4 March The Fifth Army retreat in March 1918 7pm for 7.30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk

by Jerry Murland. Non WFA members most welcome. A small donation is encouraged at the door to pay for the running of the branch.

Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com

4 March North Herts Association of National Trust 7.30pm Non-members £2 Christchurch Bedford Road Hitchin The next meeting is “Chicksands Priory”. Not a member of NT - no problem - come along and enjoy the evening.

Tel: Colin Roberts 01462 456869 Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ nhertfordassoc 5, 12, 19 & 26 March Sapphire Social Club 8.30pm Meet in Hitchin This social club caters for the unattached aged 50+ with varied events during the month. No joining fee for the first two months.

Tel: Joyce 07960 440417 for information Web: www.sapphiresocialsinglesclub.co.uk 6 March Bedfordshire Family History Society Doors open 7.15pm Mark Rutherford School Drama Hall Wentworth Drive Bedford MK42 9RX Members free, Visitors £2 Illustrated talk is “Bread, gruel & suet dumplings-life in the workhouse”. Library and bookstall are available at meetings. Next meeting will be 10 April 2015. www.bfhs.org.uk

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

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7 March The Signals Museum 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry permit from the Guardroom.

Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk 7 March The London Welsh Male Voice Choir 7pm St. Paul’s Church, Bedford Tickets £15 The Rotary Club of Bedford Castle presents The London Welsh Male Voice Choir. Soloist: Matthew Jones. Conductor: Edward-Rhys Harry. Accompanist: Annabel Thwaite. The Concert is to raise funds for Road Victims Trust (www.rvtrust.org.uk) and Bedford Day Care Hospice.

Tel: Bedford Tourist Office 01234 718112, Rotarian Richard Owen 07711 293913, Road Victims Trust 01234 843345 or Bedford Day Care Hospice 01234 352015 for tickets 8 March The 2015 Cruise & Travel Show 10am-3pm Free entry The Executive Centre, Wyboston Lakes Join the experts from the world of travel.

Meet Julie Peasgood, actress, presenter and travel journalist. Raffle Prize Draw: Grand Prize - Celebrity Cruises 5 night cruise from Southampton aboard Celebrity Eclipse for 2 people. All proceeds going to Chums - Child Bereavement, Trauma & Emotional Wellbeing Service. For free entry register online or call Cruise Select 01234 818795.

Web: www.selecttravelgroup.co.uk/show

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n O s ’ t Wha In March 9 March Icknield Quilters 7.30pm for 7.45pm start Baldock Community Centre, Simpson Drive, Baldock SG7 6DH Cost £3 Following our AGM, we will hear about the 2015 Challenge and the second block for a raffle quilt.

Web: www.icknieldquilters.co.uk 14 March Easter Eggstravaganza 10am-1pm Ashwell Springs & URC Hall Duck Race, Egg Hunt, Café, Bouncy Castle, Crafts and prizes for winners and best dressed ducks.

15 March Biggleswade Antiques Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £1.50 This antiques fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables so whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector or just looking for something special, this monthly fair is the place to visit. Café serving breakfast, lunches and afternoon tea.

Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk

15 March Maggini Quartet 8pm Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, Hitchin SG4 9RB Tickets £12, Free for under 25s and carers accompanying a disabled ticket holder We will be joined by the deservedly renowned Maggini Quartet with a programme including Beethoven – Op59 No1, Rawsthorne – 2nd Quartet and Dvorak – G major Op106. Formed in 1988, the Maggini Quartet is one of the finest British string quartets around today and their acclaimed recordings have won many international awards. Not a concert that should be missed – especially at the amazing Benslow price. A real bargain!

Tel: 01462 459446 Web: www.benslowmusic.org for tickets 18 March Sandy & District Horticultural Association 7.30pm The Bowls Pavilion, Sandy Conservative Club Visitors £3.50 A talk entitled ‘Growing & Showing Daffodils’ with John Gibson. Optional two course supper £7 per person.

Tel: 01767 680983 to book supper

Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

21 March The 14th Ashwell Flea Market 9.30am-1pm St. Mary’s Church, Ashwell Many weird and wonderful items are on sale at bargain prices. Tea and Coffee available.

Proceeds to the Church Restoration Appeal.

21 March Chrissie Cadillac 9pm Meppershall Village Hall Members £2, Non-members £5 A rock n roll tribute to the 50s & 60s.

Email: sharon1805@hotmail.co.uk to reserve tickets 27 & 28 March The 50th Letchworth and Baldock District Gang Show 7.30-9.30pm Fri & Sat, 2-4pm Sat St Francis College Theatre, Letchworth Tickets £7 (group discounts available) Come and ride the crest of the wave with us!

Email: gang.show@hotmail.co.uk Web: Gangshow.ticketsource.co.uk 29 March The Sunday Dance Club 7.30-10.30pm The Spirella Ballroom, Bridge Road, Letchworth, SG6 4ET Friendly and welcoming with plenty of floor space to practice. Great music to dance Ballroom, Latin and Popular Sequence. Ample free parking, sprung floor and licensed bar.

Tel: David 01234 300179

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Fully qualiFied — 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

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

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Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

71

LOVE YOUR

HEATING GAS SOLID FUEL &BIOMASS

WATER Love your heating provides all your heating needs from an annual boiler service to a complete new install, for a first class service at a standard rate just call us!

TOASTY TOES Worcester Bosch Vaillent Ideal Boilers Baxi Glow Worm Potterton Vokera Keston Viessmann Alpha

07913 234712 07940 797452 Insured

by Corgi

567002

Owned by Love Your Stove Ltd 72

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February’s Crossword, Codeword and Suduko Solutions Last Month’s Crossword Winner Maria Hayes from St Neots

Easy

Hard

To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

73

The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Unkempt (6) 4 Bogs (6) 9 Get better (7) 10 Command (5) 11 Not dirty (5) 12 Rational (7) 13 Honourable (11) 18 Consistent (7) 20 Hoard (5) 22 Blockade (5) 23 Impartial (7) 24 Tasks (6) 25 Remained (6) Down 2 Type of fruit (5) 3 Adult (5-2) 5 Incorrect (5)



1 Swap (6)

6 Relating to healing (7)

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

18th March 2015 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

7 Saunter (6) 8 Substitute (11) 14 Apparent (7) 15 Reckon (7) 16 Cared for (6) 17 Shouted (6) 19 Overweight (5) 21 Transport (5)

Name: Tel: Address:

74

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Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk

75

Local

Fix My Street Bumpy ride this morning? View blocked by dumped rubbish? Potholes and fly tipping are just two of the street faults that can be reported via the website www.FixMyStreet.com, along with vandalism, graffiti, dog fouling and many other common community issues.

While most of us know that the council are responsible for fixing these things, we may not know which council, let along which department in which council. With FixMyStreet, all you have to do is locate the problem on a map, and select a category: the site then sends it off to the right place to get it fixed.

All reports are published on the site, as well as being sent to the council. Browsing your own

postcode can be interesting, as you soon learn what the persistent problems are in your area, and whether or not they are being fixed. There’s also the opportunity to discuss individual reports in the comments section.

FixMyStreet comes from the UK not-for-profit organisation mySociety, and is one of its longestrunning and most-used services. It is just one of several projects aimed at making it easier for citizens to get things changed in their own community. So, next time you see something that needs fixing, be it a broken paving slab or a flickering streetlight, all you need to remember is

FixMyStreet.com

TIRED OF POTHOLES

DOG POOP VANDALISM BROKEN STREET LIGHTING FLYYTIPPING LOOSE PAVING? REPORT THEM TO THE COUNCIL WITH

.com 76

by

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Alan George Painter & Decorator Interior and Exterior Work Wallpapering and Coving Reliable and Local Specialist City & Guilds trained with 30 years experience Sole trader No VAT Free estimates Call Alan on 01582 454604 Mob:07760198256 or E-Mail: george-a6@sky.com

Electrician www.rooneyelectrical.co.uk

Do you find it difficult to get someone to come and do a small job?

Fault finding/repairs Extra lights and sockets New fuse boards Rewires P.A.T testing Landlord inspections Qualified electrician  Fully insured Reliable service  Tidy work Free quote  Satisfaction guaranteed

Call Nigel on: 01767 221088 / 07941295883 To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261122

77

Carpentry and Joinery • Wood Burning Stoves • Multi Fuel Stoves • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Installation and Supply • Fireplace Renovations • Stove Accessories • Trade Sales

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Tim Jordon

Carpentry and Joinery Made to measure quality timber products supply and fit.

Doors, Windows, Stairs, Gates, Kitchen Worktops, Wood staining, painting and varnishing Station Road, Lower Stondon, Beds.

Tel: 01462 850363 or 07544 790071

Cleaning Services

Friday, Saturday & Monday – 10am—5pm Other Days/Out of hours by prior arrangement

Now in our 2nd decade of loyal service

Unit 2 Home Farm Court, The Street, Diddington, St Neots, PE19 5XT info@cromwellstoves.co.uk 01480 812281 | 07786 854946

www.cromwellstoves.co.uk

mwell stoves 1/4 page.indd 1

*** for ALL domestic cleaning *** weekly or fortnightly clean *** one-off ‘Deep Clean’ service call Michelle for a free estimate tel: 01582 431386 mobile: 07763 427134

A TOUCH OF GLASS 10/02/2015 08:33

Quality UPVC Windows, Doors & Conservatories ALL REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN Broken locks, handles, hinges, replacement misted glass units, catflaps, draughty windows EMERGENCY 24HR CALL OUT SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT For free advice call Dave today

01462 619651 Web: atouchofglasswindowsanddoors.co.uk 78

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Classifieds Plastering Services

Electricians

Lawes Plastering

Experienced local plasterer based in Gravenhurst.

Quality workmanship, clean and tidy

Contact • Plastering Paul on • Coving 07731 649628 • Artex

Pet Services

Property Maintenance Lawes Plastering.indd 1

R. CHAPMAN

02/11/2014 10:3

Home & Garden Services

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

01462 850575 or 07950 311881

Plastering Services

Removals and Storage

James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding Tel: 07792 415356 or 01462 490598 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk

removals, storage, archive and shipping • House and office moves • Large and small vehicles • Local/long distance and overseas removals • Containerised storage • Extremely high quality customer service Call for a no obligation quotation

01582 572967

enquiries@stephensremovals.com

Stephens Dinky ad_02.indd 1

Business gone a bit slow?

Let us help!

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

To find out more call Nigel on 01767 261122 or email nigel@villagermag.com

Van Hire

3/12/12 11:44:54

Chris’ Man & Van

For hire

Collections, Deliveries, Light Haulage...anything considered.

Cheap rates Please call for further details

07747 828259 / 01525 754218

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

79

Relax & Renew

Beauty Studio

Voted Americas most wanted non-invasive beauty treatment Suitable for all skin types, the Venus Freeze is a comfortable warm treatment that's used as a non-surgical face lift, helping to improve lines, wrinkles, jowls & a double chin. On the body it will tighten loose skin, reduce cellulite & fat, resulting in a more defined youthful appearance.

What results will I get?

Tighter skin • Softening of wrinkles • More youthful appearance • Reduced cellulite • More contoured silhouette •

All this with...

NO downtime • NO pain • NO Discomfort •

Just £25 for a taster session when you mention the Villager

Call today for a free consultation

www.renewbeautystudio.co.uk renewbeautystudio@gmail.com T: 07984 744 218 Millard Way, Hitchin, Herts SG4 0QE