Henlow October 2012 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 47 - October 2012

and Town Life

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In this Issue

VILLAGER

Issue 47 - October 2012

The

and Town Life

£25

Prize Crossword See Inside

The History

Of Fish And Chips

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Competition Page

Great Prize Up For Grabs

Editorial

Leon F. Jones, Katharine Sorell, Geoff Wharton, Claudia Leaf, Helen Taylor, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Sarah Davey, James Baggott, Sarah Fryer, Alex Brown and Pippa Greenwood

Advertising Sales Nigel Frost nigel@villagermag.com

Front Cover Image Rob Hainer

Design and Artwork Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers

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

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and Town Life

Disclaimer

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

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Pumpkin Power.....................................................................13 Winter Wardrobe Blues....................................................... 16 Help - My Child is a Bully.......................................................21 Local Ladies Mean Business................................................ 23 Inventions - Matches............................................................ 24 Fun Quiz................................................................................ 24 Professional Make-Up Looks............................................... 26 Be Kind to your Boiler.......................................................... 29 Enjoy Some Tulip Mania....................................................... 34 Rural Ramblings................................................................... 37 Children’s Page..................................................................... 39 Preparing Your Body for Pregnancy....................................40 Seasonal Delights................................................................. 42 Bean Scene...........................................................................44 Seasonal Treats.................................................................... 47 Puzzle Page..........................................................................48 Take the Floor........................................................................51 Mitsubishi Outlander........................................................... 53 The Art of Downsizing......................................................... 57 What’s On.............................................................................58 Be Kind to your Parents.......................................................60 Wordsearch..........................................................................60 Firework Safety and Etiquette............................................. 62

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The History of Fish & Chips

BY Sarah Fryer

With the population of Great Britain working harder than ever in this punishing economy, it doesn’t leave much time in people’s hectic schedules to spend quality time at home to indulge in niceties such as cooking. This is why in today’s society, take-away food is an ever growing industry and with the nation’s favourite still being good old fashioned fish & chips, it’s no wonder more and more take-away establishments are popping up in every village and in every town. Despite the threat from pizzas and burgers, fish and chips remain the preferred take away dish, nearly four times more popular than Indian curries. So where did Fish and Chips come from? How did this tasty yet affordable meal served to us in grease proof paper transpire? It all started in the 18th century when the potato is thought to have been brought to England from France. It is said, a French chef originally invented the idea of chips (pommes frites) in his recipe book called Shilling cookery in 1854, when he referred to such as “Thin cut potatoes cooked in oil” We know Fish warehouses sold fried fish and bread in London’s East End, as referred to in Charles Dickens Novel Oliver Twist in 1830, but how did this correlate with the chips and who

was responsible for our quintessential dish being born? Many rumours state both Lancashire from the North, and London in the South East were the first to marry up both fish & chips and each claim they were the first to open a “Chippie” (fish & chip shop) The first fish and chip shop in the North of England is thought to have opened in Mossely, near Oldham, Lancashire, around 1863. The Proprietor, Mr Lees originally sold fish and chips from a wooden hut in the market and later he transferred the business to a permanent shop across the road which had the following inscription in the window, “This is the first fish and chip shop in the world”. In London however, it was a very different story. A gentleman by the name of Joseph Malin suggests he was the first to open a fish and chip shop in Cleveland Street in 1860. It still remains unclear exactly when and where these two trades combined to become the fishand-chip shop industry we know today, or whom indeed was the first to open a take-away, but we do know the “concept” of a fish restaurant was started by a man called Samuel Isaacs who ran a flourishing wholesale and retail fish business throughout London and the South of England in the latter part of the 19th century. Isaacs’ first restaurant opened in London in 1896 serving fish and chips, bread and butter, and tea for nine pence. His restaurants were carpeted, had a waited service, tablecloths, flowers, china and cutlery, and made the trappings of upmarket dining affordable to the working classes for the first time. They were located in Tottenham Court Road, St Pancras, The Strand and several other London districts, as well as more coastal areas such as Clacton, Brighton, Ramsgate, Margate and popular seaside resorts in Southern England. Menus were expanded in the early 20th century to include meat dishes, and as their popularity grew, so did their restaurants, with a grand total of thirty. Sam Isaacs’ trademark was the phrase “This is the Plaice” combined with a picture of the punned-upon fish in question. A glimpse of the old Brighton restaurant at No.1 Marine Parade can be seen in the background of Norman Wisdoms

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1955 film “One Good Turn” just as Norman/ Pitkin runs onto the seafront. Coincidentally, this is now the site of a Harry Ramsden’s fish and chips restaurant. A blue plaque at Oldham’s Tommyfield Market marks the first chips fried in Britain in 1860, and the origin of the fish and chip shop and fast food industries in Britain. By the late 19th century, fish and chip shops became small family businesses more often than not run from the “front room” of the family home and by the early 20th century this was commonplace. The 20th century also saw the fish and chip trade expand greatly to satisfy the needs of the growing industrial population of Great Britain. The development of the steam trawler brought fish from all over the North Atlantic, Iceland and Greenland and the steam railways allowed easy and fast distribution of the fish to be transported all over the country. Fish and chips became so popular that a fish and chip shop in Bradford had to employ a doorman to control the queue at busy times. Fish and chips have in many ways been a staple of the British diet dating back as far as war times, they supplemented families during the Second World War when, the Minister For Food, Lord Woolton, exempted fish and chips from rationing. This was rare as very few foods had the luxury of being ration free. Queues for our Nations favourite were often hours long when the word went round that the chip shop had fish!! On one occasion at Brian’s Fish and Chip Shop in Leeds, when fish was scarce, homemade fish cakes were sold - along with the perplexing, and slightly perturbing,

warning: “Patrons: We do not recommend the use of vinegar with these fish cakes”!! And so the fish and chip phenomena continued and on December 20, 1928, in Guiseley in West Yorkshire, a man set up a striped wooden hut beside a tram stop. His name was Harry Ramsden, a name which we all know and love today. Despite Guiseley’s remoteness from the sea (it is more than 60 miles inland), Ramsden had decided to sell fish and chips there. The wooden hut was a success and, three years later, he opened a fish and chip ‘palace’ in the town. He modelled it on The Ritz in London, with a classic look containing wooden panelling and chandeliers, Harry Ramsden’s fish and chip ‘palace’ is still the largest fish and chip shop in the world. On a single day in 1952, it served 10,000 portions of fish and chips, earning itself a place in The Guinness Book of Records. Over the Centuries the trade has grown to feed a rapidly expanding population, in 1930 alone, over 35,000 shops opened their doors. The Federation of Fish Friers in the UK claim that in 1995 the British consumed 300 million servings of fish and chips equating to six servings for every man woman and child in the country. The record for the largest number of portions sold in one day by an independent fish and chip shop is over 4,000. Now was this record day a Friday? As you know a “fish supper” is still very popular on this day and a tradition adhered to by many, but why is this? The reason is the Roman Catholic Religion, and it came about as a form of abstinence. This is a longstanding tradition of not eating meat on Fridays, especially during Lent, and of substituting fish for other types of meat on this day continues to influence habits even in predominantly Protestant, semi-secular and secular societies. Friday night remains a traditional occasion for eating fish and chips; and many restaurants and similar establishments, while varying their menus on other days of the week, habitually offer fish and chips every Friday. So which fish is Britain drawn to most when we buy our supper on a Friday evening? Well the UK still prefers cod and accounts for 61.5% of the total consumption. Cod landed in the UK is caught within strict management regimes and quota systems setting safe limits for catches agreed by fishermen, scientists and government. Cod caught within these agreed limits is safe for consumers to eat.

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Second on the list is Haddock with 25% of the population with regional variations of fish such as whiting in Northern Ireland and some parts of Scotland and Skate and Huss in the South of England. Suppliers in Devon and Cornwall regularly offer pollock and coley as cheap alternatives to haddock due to their regular availability in a common catch. As a cheap, nutritious, savoury and common alternative to a whole piece of fish, fish-and-chips shops around the UK supply small battered rissoles of compressed cod roe. Love them or hate them, mushy peas are the classic accompaniment to our beloved fish and chips, and maybe more common today is the tasty curry sauce, which in fact has been served in fish shops since the mid-seventies.. The only other sauces considered suitable are a splash of ketchup or in Scotland, some like brown sauce. Fish and chips were traditionally wrapped in greaseproof paper and a thick layer of newspaper. This served not only as an insulator but as a plate to make eating outdoors easier - health and safety controls no longer allow the use of newspaper, but somehow, it can’t be beaten. The wonderful smell emanated out from underneath its cosy jacket and seemed to tease anyone who smelt it. To this day there is nothing better than being outdoors on a chilly day and getting yourself some fish and chips to eat in the wrapper. Today people are more conscious of what they consume and calorie intake is far more important, but is this fair comment when it comes to the content of fish and chips? Well the question is, are they healthy? the answer, not exactly but better

than a lot of other fast foods on the market. Fish and chips on average have 9.42 grams of fat per 100 grams whereas the average pizza will have 11. If you compare it to an Indian chicken korma, it fairs quite well as this, on average, packs away approximately 15.5 and a doner kebab at an astonishing 16.2. Fish and chips have roughly 595 calories per serving, not great if you are counting the calories, but certainly better than other take-away foods. Today there is said to be between 8,500 - 11,000 fish and chips shops throughout the UK and Ireland, finding a chippie is usually easy, but our British tradition has spread its wings and can now be found around the world, especially in popular coastal regions around Spain. Currently there are 4 in New York, all following the first shop to open up called “A Salt and Battery” However, with the rising cost of fish, coupled with current fears about sustainability and obesity, Britain’s fish and chip industry could be under threat. In addition, last November the Food Standards Agency (FSA) targeted fish and chip shops as part of a programme to make Britain healthier. The FSA pilot scheme, launched in 80 fish and chip shops, aims to encourage chippies to create chunkier chips that absorb less fat. The National Federation of Fish Fryers has hit back, demonstrating that fish and chips has a lower fat and sugar content than any of its fastfood competitors. But like all good things, it never stays traditional for long and I doubt there is a fish and chip shop out there that solely sells fish and chips. Demand has become so strong and the craving for burgers, pies, sausages and chicken is one that can’t be ignored, hence the reason why you will find these other savoury items sharing the menu with the classic Cod, Haddock, Plaice and chips. Wouldn’t it be great to take our classic fish and chip take-away back to the days when all you could buy was fish dishes and have it wrapped in our favourite newspaper whilst being doused in salt and vinegar! For the moment though the public is voting with its feet. Fish and chips have risen in popularity during the current recession and today almost 300million portions are sold in Britain each day. The statistics speak volumes, the classic British fish and chip supper is here to stay. Some facts & statistics courtesy of: The National Federation of Fish Friers & Seafish UK.

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FAST–JET TRIBUTE AIR SHOW

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Sunday 7th October 2012

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Pumpkin Power

By Sarah Davey

How to carve a perfect Halloween lantern Our American cousins know how to celebrate Halloween with style. One of the trademark symbols you’ll see outside almost every house at this time of year is a huge carved pumpkin, or Jack-o-lantern as they’re known across the pond. There’s a knack to carving a great pumpkin lantern. If you want yours to be the envy of all your neighbours this October, follow our stepby-step guide. First choose the right pumpkin. Firm and smooth is best for beginners. Advanced or creative types might like a more gnarled and warty specimen. Make sure there are no soft spots and that the stalk is nice and firm. Most importantly, make sure it sits up without rolling over, or your lantern will be a failure! If you have to buy your pumpkin in advance, store it in a cool dry place, like the garage, to help keep it fresh. The best carved pumpkins require good tools. You can buy children’s pumpkin carving sets which work reasonably well for simple designs. However if you’re after something showy you’ll need a sharp kitchen knife with a long blade, a smaller paring knife and possibly a craft knife. A bradawl is useful too. These tools are adult-only for obvious reasons. An ice cream scoop or large spoon is great for scooping out the flesh. Don’t forget to lay

down lots of newspaper or plastic sheeting because pumpkin carving is a messy business. Plan your design before you start. Draw a circle roughly the same size as the area you want to carve and get your children to help. If you’re stuck there are some great free templates available on the internet. Tape your design on to the pumpkin then use a cocktail stick to push through the paper to mark out the design. Then cut it out. You can carve other veg, like turnips, though it’s more difficult to hollow them out. You can use cocktail sticks to fasten other small vegetables, like courgettes, carrots and tiny squashes to your lantern for decoration. With a bit of ingenuity you can give your pumpkin face ears or horns. Broccoli and cauliflower florets can make funky hair. The only limit is your imagination. The pumpkins in the photo were carved by a friend’s husband. He hollowed out and carved a little pomegranate for his pumpkin monster to chomp on! Once you’ve created your masterpiece soak it in water for an hour. Then pop it on your doorstep for everyone to admire. If you’re worried about leaving a lit candle inside, try an electric tea light. They flicker like the real thing but are totally safe. Happy Halloween!

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Discover the Canal du Midi

in the South of France In 1996, the Canal du Midi became the first canal in the world to receive World Heritage status, as one of the ‘greatest engineering feats of modern times’ and ‘outstanding landscape fashioned by man’. Designed to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean across south west France, it had been planned since Roman times but work did not start until 1667, taking 14 years and 15,000 people to complete. Sadly, the engineer Pierre Paul Riquet passed away just months before the royal barge opened the first stretch in his native town of Béziers, in 1681. From Toulouse, where it joins the Canal de Garonne, to the vast Etang de Thau on the Mediterranean, the 245 km long waterway is dotted with over 300 supporting structures, including bridges, locks and canal aqueducts invented by Riquet to cross streams and rivers. The canal tunnel in Malpas was also a world’s first, completed in secret in just a week before the authorities had a chance to find out. They had refused permission on safety grounds. The tunnel remains one of the highlights along the route, rivalled only by Fonserannes, a steep staircase of seven locks and now a listed monument. For 200 years or so, the canal brought wealth to the region, encouraging agriculture, trade and related business, from boat yards to inns. It was the cheapest way to transport people and goods since a single barge could carry the equivalent of 125 ox-driven carts. Having turned down the canal because of the cost, the town of Carcassonne soon realised its mistake and agreed eventually to finance a diversion. Inevitably, the advent of the railway brought commercial trade to an end but right across Languedoc, the Canal du Midi is alive and well, an integral part of the landscape, meandering past lock-keepers’ cottages, hill top castles and red-roofed villages nestling among vineyards and sunflower fields. Fed by reservoirs from the Black Mountain, or foothills of the central range, shaded by plane trees, pines and cypresses which stabilise the banks and preserve moisture, it’s a peaceful haven for holiday barges, yachts and cruisers. Fishermen doze on the banks, swans and ducks nest in the reeds and the old tow path doubles up as a cycling and walking trail. For those who cruise along the canal, there is

plenty of excitement, working the locks, ducking under low bridges, heading into the tunnel, and plenty to see, from Marseillan and the nearby oyster beds to the medieval walled town of Carcassonne, the largest in Europe, or Toulouse, the vibrant ‘pink city’ basking on the banks of the Garonne. There are picturesque harbours along the way, Castelnaudary, Le Somail, Capestang, wine tasting cellars, flower-draped inns, nature reserves, home to peacock butterflies and 200 species of birds, and glistening lagoons where flamingos feed among the islands. In Port Lauragais, the Pierre Paul Riquet Centre is dedicated to the history of the canal while at the nearby Seuil de Naurouze, the highest point on the route and the watershed between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, an obelisk has been erected in Riquet’s honour. There is no better place to celebrate this local genius, an engineer with amazing vision but also a caring man who introduced sick pay and rest days for his workers, centuries ahead of his time.

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Winter wardrobe blues

OCTOBER

Well, the last flickers of the Indian summer have finally faded, and bright October days can be chilly, so it’s time to put the shorts and sandals and old tour t-shirts away for a few months and dig out the winter clothes. Shouldn’t need to buy anything new: I have plenty of stuff left over from previous years. Which is handy as times are tight, and the more I waste on clothes means the less I can waste on beer. But anyway, who needs to spend a fortune on a new wardrobe every season? Let’s start by testing that ancient proposition: the cat sat on the mat. No it didn’t. The cat sat on my hat, actually. In fact it’s nested in it. It’s now a dense rug of cat-hair and utterly irredeemable, so I shall start collating the season’s wardrobe by binning the beanie and putting a new one on the shopping list. Next, gloves. I don’t wear gloves often these days. I only ever used them for snowballing, and at my advanced age I don’t have to do that anymore. Still, you need a pair against the unlikely eventuality of, say, having to dig the car out of a snowdrift. So it’s now that I discover that I have many gloves, but none of them match. So, add new gloves to the list. Now obviously you need a nice woolly jumper for the winter, and as it happens I have one. I hate it. I hate all jumpers. They’re cumbersome things, make it impossible to move freely, and the moment you make the transition from freezing street to overheated department store or pub or library you start sweating like an overworked horse. So no new jumper this year. On the other

hand, I don’t want to freeze every time I nip out for a paper. I know I haven’t worn a vest for, oh, 40 years. I gave them up when I was a teenager as an act of unobtrusive rebellion. But they do keep you warm. OK, some vests, then. I shouldn’t need a new coat, though. I’ve had the same coat for years and years. It’s lovely and toastie and in excellent nick. Cost me a few bob, but it’s been worth it. Rather an odd assortment of buttons by now, mind, but nobody’s ever commented on it. Hang on, though: if I’m going to be wearing a vest from now on, my warm old coat might be a bit too warm. Lots of thin layers, that’s what they recommend nowadays. Better look for a slightly lighter one, then. I’m definitely all right for dog-walking shoes, though, with a choice of hiking boots or wellies for seasonal snow, slush, or mud. Uh-oh... the boots are fine, but there’s a deficit in the sock department. I like my boots roomy, so I can wear nice thick socks to cuddle my toes. But looking at my rather sad assortment of thermals, I see they’ve all mysteriously developed holes. In olden days my mum would have darned these, but I haven’t seen a darning mushroom in years and even if I had, I wouldn’t know what to do with it. So it’s out with the old, and off to Edinburgh Woollen Mills for the new. Hang on – that’s new beanie, gloves, vests, coat, and walking socks. This October’s clothes-shop is beginning to look expensive. Think I’ll stay indoors until the January sales...

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

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Help – my child is a bully!

By Alex Brown

It’s what every parent dreads, but bullying behaviour can be beaten. We all want our children to have good friends and can’t bear the thought of them being bullied. But what can you do if you think that it’s your own child who is the bully? The first thing is to keep calm. It is important to know exactly what’s going on before you act. Was this an isolated incident or is it something that has been going on for a while? Talk to your child’s teachers and find out as much as you can about what led up to the bullying behaviour, what triggered it, who was involved, and so on. Discuss what happened with your child. Why did they act in the way they did? Bullying behaviour is often caused by other problems in a child’s life. They might have been retaliating against another child’s aggression

or teasing. Low self-esteem, unhappiness, stress, boredom and jealousy are also triggers. Whether it’s a one-off or a long-term problem, you need to tell your child that all bullying is unacceptable. Encourage them to think how the other child must feel – a role-play exercise may help. Explain that if it doesn’t stop now, the situation could become worse and lead to suspension from school or even police involvement. Set out clear consequences that you will implement if the bullying continues, but give your child chances to show improved behaviour. Set goals and reward them when they succeed. Try to keep the atmosphere in your home as calm and relaxed as possible. Children will copy what they see and need to learn appropriate ways of dealing with anger, such as taking ten deep breaths or going to a quiet place to cool off. To boost their self-esteem, find an activity or sport that your child enjoys and give them lots of praise and encouragement. You could divert their excess energy into jobs around the house – tidying up, watering the garden or walking the dog – anything that gets them moving in a positive way and earns them rewards. Keep in touch with school to check that your child’s behaviour is improving. If you think the situation is getting serious, don’t be afraid to ask for help – your doctor or the school can suggest a child psychologist or counsellor. The charities listed below will also give you good advice. And don’t expect instant results. It can take months or even years to change bullying behaviour, and the older the child, the harder it is – but it’s worth it! Bullying UK: www.bullying.co.uk 0808 800 2222 Kidscape: www.kidscape.org.uk 08451 205 204 Beat Bullying: www.beatbullying.org 0208 771 3377

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LOCAL LADIES MEAN BUSINESS

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY Following the success of the Spring Event, Enterprising Ladies join forces again to show they mean business, with an Autumn Showcase & Shopping Evening. The venue for this event is The Gamlingay Eco Hub on Monday 15th October and is open to the public with free entry from 7pm to 10pm. Cafe, cakes and refreshments available. Around 30 local businesses will be represented, ranging from services such as publishing, accountancy, hat hire, interior design, to handmade jewellery and cosmetics, fingernail polishing, celebration rosettes, dainty cakes and sparkling party bags full of delectable sweets, along with balloon sculpting, complementary therapies and skin care.

Another chance for everyone to come and find out what the local ladies are up to, with new businesses showcasing with LLMB for the first time. It will also be a great opportunity to do some early Christmas Shopping, with many exhibitors selling their products. Alternatively, if you are a lady with a business and would like more information about LLMB, please contact Liz Day LLMB@mail.com Tel 07778 188924 More about the group can be seen at www. localladiesmeanbusiness.co.uk LLMB would like to thank The Villager for their support.

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INVENTIONS - Matches

By Leon F. Jones

Thanks to the humble matchstick, we aren’t lighting our birthday cake candles, bonfires and gas stoves by striking sparks off a flint with a piece of steel. As early as A.D. 577 in China, small sticks of pinewood impregnated with sulphur were used to produce instant flame. In Europe, it wasn’t until 1669 that the alchemist Hennig Brandt discovered the flammable nature of phosphorous. In 1680 an Irish physicist, Robert Boyle (of Boyle’s Law fame) coated a small piece of paper with phosphorous and coated a small piece of wood with sulphur to produce a flame however he didn’t develop his idea into a useable match. In 1827, John Walker, an English chemist and apothecary coated the end of a stick with certain chemicals and let it dry, starting a fire by drawing the stick across rough surfaces. His yard-long sticks were cumbersome however, and he never patented it. A version of Walker’s match was eventually patented by a Samuel Jones, however

they also had problems; an initial violent reaction, an unsteady flame and unpleasant smell. In 1830 a French chemist, Charles Sauria, substituted white phosphorous for the antimony in Walker’s mixture. White phosphorous is poisonous and the new matches made people sick with an ailment dubbed “phossy jaw”. In 1855, Swede Johan Lundstrom used red phosphorous instead of white and for many decades Sweden held a worldwide monopoly in the manufacture of safety matches. A Philadelphia lawyer named Joshua Pusey invented the matchbook in 1889 developing small paper matches bound into a pocket sized book. His idea was used by the Mendelssohn Opera Company to advertise their New York opening and suddenly paper matchbooks were everywhere, advertising everything.

Fun Quiz - Monsters 1. Which fictional monster lived on Skull Island? 2. On the TV show Sesame Street, what colour is the Cookie Monster’s fur? 3. In the Shakespeare play Othello, what is referred to as “the green eyed monster”? 4. What is the more common name for a lycanthrope? 5. Lending its name to a roller coaster at Seaworld in Orlando, Florida, what is the name of the legendary sea monster that is said to have been seen off the coasts of Norway and Iceland? 6. “Monsters Unleashed” is the sub-title to a 2004 sequel to which 2002 film? 7. Which comedienne called herself “the Sea Monster” when she first began doing stand-up comedy? 8. Also used as a motor racing track, which site hosted the Monsters Of Rock festivals between 1980 and 1996? 9. Who played the title role in the 1994 film Frankenstein? 10. In which Stephen King novel does a monster take the form of a clown called Pennywise? 1. King Kong 2. Blue 3. Jealousy 4. A werewolf 5. Kraken 6. Scooby Doo 7. Jo Brand 8. Donington Park 9. Kenneth Brannagh (note: Robert de Niro is incorrect as he played the monster) 10. It

Before

After

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Tricks of the Trade BY HELEN TAYLOR

Professional Make-Up Looks So you think you know how to apply your makeup? Then think again. We’ve got the best hints, tips and tricks to help you achieve a professional look, and fix some of those troublesome areas too. Tools of the Trade No make-up artist would be without a quality brush set. It provides all the tools needed to sculpt, conceal and enhance, whilst ensuring an even application of any product. Make-up brushes come in many shapes and sizes, and each has its own job. The most essential are: Foundation brush - this ensures that a totally flawless finish is created. It makes liquid foundation easy to apply and guarantees an even covering. Concealer brush - allows for precision when concealing any blemish, dark circle or imperfection. Powder brush - foundation should always be set with powder and this brush offers the perfect covering. Blusher brush - a good blusher brush will effortlessly sculpt the cheekbones and provide a well- blended hint of colour. Eyeshadow brushes - recent make-up trends have dictated that the focus is on lips rather than eyes, however eye-shadow shouldn’t be overlooked. Swap dark shades for a neutral and natural palette and use your eye-shadow brushes to create definition. Always remember to contour the eye by applying the lightest colour to the inner corners and under the brow bone, mid-colour to your socket and darkest shade to the outer corners. Lip brush – after trying a lip brush you won’t ever want to be without one. Defining the lips is made easy, and colour looks even and natural. Make-up brushes that are described as ‘natural’ or ‘bristle’ are often made from squirrel, pony, sable or goat hair, so make sure they’re 100% cruelty free before you buy. ‘Synthetic’ brushes are often far cheaper and mimic the feel of natural bristle. Problem? No Problem Professional make-up artists have a solution for any problem. Here are a few top tips. Under-Eye Dark Circles Firstly, prepare the skin under the eyes with an eye gel. Using the correct brush, apply concealer that’s two shades lighter than your foundation -

yellow toned versions work well on ivory/beige coloured skin - to the entire area. Use your finger to blend, using a ‘tapping’ motion. When you apply your foundation over an area that’s just been concealed, be sure to use the same ‘tapping’ motion that you did to conceal it, otherwise you will just be wiping away the product and revealing the dark area. Under-Eye Puffiness A common mistake that many women make is to try to disguise puffy eyes by using a light coloured concealer. This only draws attention to the problem. The key is to highlight the shadowy area underneath the puffiness to create balance and even out the look of the under-eye area. After applying foundation, use a light-reflecting liquid concealer or highlighter and apply just under the puffiness, where the shadowy area is being created, not on the eye-bag itself. Blend by patting the product into the skin. Over-Plucked Eyebrows Finding the right shape eyebrow for your face is essential, so take care not to over-pluck. However, if your eyebrows are a little sparse, there’s no need to worry, as you can create the look of naturally full brows by using either eyebrow pencil or powder. Mimic your natural brows by using feather-like strokes when you apply, and be sure never to draw a straight or solid line.

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Be Kind to Your Boiler

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti Boilers, like cars, can run for years without being serviced, but if they aren’t checked regularly it could be costly in the long run. Boilers are subject to gradual wear and tear and if minor problems are left unchecked they could lead to major damage, hefty repair bills and even boiler replacement. An annual service takes about an hour and should be carried out by a fully qualified Gas Safe engineer, who will calibrate the boiler and check for leaks and soot build ups. The result will be a boiler that is operating efficiently and safely – and saving you money because it is using less energy! Along with the financial benefits, annual boiler servicing is essential to the terms of some warranties and is a legal requirement if you are a landlord. It could also be a matter of life and death should a leak be discovered. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to serious illness and even death if it is not detected. Known as the silent killer, there are no obvious signs, so a safety test could literally be a life saver.

Getting your boiler serviced may seem like a waste of money – especially if you’ve had it done in the past and all was well – but is it really worth taking that risk?

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COMPETITION • COMPETITION For over 50 years, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production. Today the record-breaking production will enter its 60th year in London’s West End, and on 25 November 2012 will celebrate the actual 60th Birthday with a gala in aid of Mousetrap Theatre Projects. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is unique. It sets a new world record every day for the number of performances. When The Mousetrap opened on 25th November 1952 with Richard Attenborough and his fellow film-star and beloved wife Sheila Sim in the leading roles, it was only seven years since Hitler died. Much essential food was still rationed, Mr Winston Churchill was Prime Minister, Harry Truman was President of the United States, and Stalin was ruler of Russia. There was fighting in Korea, and Princess Elizabeth began her long reign as Queen. The last tram ran in London, Television programmes ended at 10.30 p.m., and the entire TV listings only occupied three and a half lines. Since The Mousetrap opened 390 actors and actresses have appeared in the play, there have been 221 understudies. 119 miles of shirts miles of shirts have been ironed. The play has been presented in 27 different languages in more than 50 countries. It all started in 1947 when the late Queen Mary was approaching her 80th birthday on 26th May, the BBC wanted to do a special radio broadcast as a tribute. Remember in 1947 TV was virtually unknown, and made enquiries as to what she

would like. Opera, Shakespeare, anything she choose was hers for the asking. Back came the reply, an Agatha Christie play. Agatha Christie wrote a 30 minute play for Queen Mary’s birthday called, Three Blind Mice. And so a legend was born, because Three Blind Mice was eventually enlarged into The Mousetrap. The play opened at a Theatre so small that it had to be an immediate smash hit to survive. Well, it was and it did. Why has it run? No one can say. A family play, a good who donit, comedy and thrills, well constructed (perhaps better than people realise). But other plays have also qualified in these categories. After 18 months, star Richard Attenborough left, which would have been a death blow to most plays. But with no “names “ The Mousetrap strode triumphantly on, records came and went. And there came a time - no one can say at what point - when The Mousetrap was an institution. And still people laughed, admired and wondered. Publicity was self perpetuating, helped by mammoth celebration parties which the stars generously supported. The fact that Agatha Christie herself rarely gave interviews made her occasional ones enormous news. In its first 50 years The Mousetrap had more than 324 different actors and actresses in its cast of 8, 162 understudies and 20 different directors. During its 60 years the scenery and all the furnishings have been replaced except for one armchair and a clock. www.the-mousetrap.co.uk

Villager Magazine has three champagne packages each worth £131.50 to giveaway, each packages consists of a pair of tickets, a Bottle of Champagne, a Brochure and a Souvenir Programme. The prize is only applicable Mon-Thurs and not on a Bank Holiday and should be used within 3 months. Please send your name and address to enter the prize draw to Mousetrap Prize Draw, The Villager, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP.

COMPETITION • COMPETITION 30

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

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

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Enjoy Some Tulip Mania

by pippa Greenwood All those years ago when ‘Tulipmania’ was rife, people were so taken by tulips that it’s said they paid similar to house prices for some especially prized tulip bulbs. Now that might seem crazy, but nowadays we can relax and enjoy tulips without spending a fortune. They are amazingly good value, as a visit to your local garden centre will prove and now’s a great time to plant tulip bulbs. In fact it’s better to plant them over the next few weeks than to have planted them in September, so take the plunge and indulge in some tulip bulbs that have the potential to transform your flower beds and tubs next spring with their silken-petalled, strikingly coloured blooms. Late Planting - Tulip bulbs are best planted after you plant most of your other spring flowering bulbs. Planting from the last half of October and well in to November generally works best. Plant too early and the bulbs will be far more prone to damage by the fungal ‘tulip fire’ disease which wrecks the leaves and flowers, so you can relax in the knowledge that spring is now packed full of potential. Gritty Bed - If your garden soil is inclined to be clay and rather heavy, tulips may suffer and are certainly less likely to come back after their first wet winter. A heavy loam works well but anything that isn’t well drained may cause problems. You can solve this to a good extent by digging an extra large planting hole and putting an inch or two of horticultural gravel or grit in the base of the hole before planting the bulb. Don’t use grit or gravel left over from the local building site, as this often contains salts and other contaminants which may harm or kill garden plants. Contained Colour - Tulips make great plants for containers such as window boxes, tubs and decent-sized pots and planters. All types do well, but shorter varieties generally look best (check the front of the pack or the catalogue for heights). Good drainage is essential so make sure that there are plenty of crocks in the base of the container and that it’s well supplied with drainage holes. Either a loam-free multi-purpose compost or use this mixed 50:50 with a loambased compost and a bit of added grit. Fantastic Foliage - Tulips are best known for their gorgeous flowers, but don’t forget that many also have good looking foliage which can help to

bring colour and texture to your pots and beds. Try the Kaufmanniana types such as ‘Johann Strauss’(dark red flowers with yellow edges and mottled leaves), or even better the Greigii type tulips which all have maroon patterning on the leaves, such as ‘Red Riding Hood’ (richest red with black). Choosing tulips with fantastic foliage means that they give you something to enjoy both before and after the fantastic floral display. Tulip Partners - It’s the ultimate classic combination, but to my mind it’s still not used often enough – richest red tulips surrounded by a mist of pale blue forget-me-nots. Dreamily pretty, this wonderful combination is easy to achieve; you can sow the forget-me-not seed now, as you plant the bulbs, or if you prefer sow them early in the year, just before the bulbs emerge. Either way the display you achieve will be breathtakingly beautiful. Long-lived Lovelies - In most gardens tulips are not the longest living bulbs, however you can always try growing the so-called species tulips such as Tulipa sprengeri or Tulipa turkestanica. They have smaller, less-showy flowers and will be considerably more expensive initially but they look gorgeous, tend to last longer and, better still, spread extensively in the right spot. After a few years a carpet of species tulips can be achieved, and will take your breath away. Good Companions - Tulips look great with each other or with many other plants. Try combining the richly purple-black leaved Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’ with any purple tulip such as ‘Passionale’, or for a wackier effect chose one of the frilly petalled parrot-tulips with green streaks on their petals, or the green ‘spring green’ tulip, combined with any low-growing shrub. So whether your garden is large or small, or you’re restricted to a paved backyard or a balcony, this is the best time of year to think tulips and all they have to offer your garden. Start planting now and transform your garden for spring. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com. You can also sign up for Pippa’s newsletter and get a free ebook on organic gardening.

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THE LOG MAN Established 1972

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Rural Ramblings BY GEOFF WHARTON

From Muck to Magic I have always found the edible mushroom to be a rather strange and unusual food full of mystery and intrigue. I remember being more than impressed when an acquaintance took me for a guided walk through the woods looking for a fungal supper. While collecting specimens to eat, he would confidently point out and name other species of interest. I was in awe of his knowledge and expertise and had no worries about the accuracy of his identification of the edible and non-edible kinds. The mixed mushroom supper was a great success but I can’t say the same for the nettle soup! I have always been interested in the cultivation of mushrooms but regretfully, I have never actually done so. It seemed such an effort to send for the spawn and prepare the growing medium which has to be properly composted horse manure. This must be stacked into a sufficiently large pile in order for other microbes to begin to reproduce and create heat. As the temperature builds up, the bacteria and fungi start to die off leaving behind a sterile ,semi decayed material which is rich in nitrogen together with easily absorbed carbohydrates from the broken down straw. When the composted manure has cooled down , the dormant mushroom (what a strange name!) fungus can be spread on the surface and left for the root-like hyphae to spread and grow over the surface of the compost. During this period, nutrients are absorbed and used to produce a reproductive structure called a fruiting body (the mushroom) which if left, would produce microscopic seed-like spores whose purpose is to be carried by the wind, land on suitable surfaces and possibly germinate to produce another group of hyphae and continue the life-cycle. The mushroom does not need light in order to grow, unlike green plants, as it absorbs all of it’s nutrients from the medium on which it is growing and therefore can miraculously appear suddenly overnight. The hyphal “roots” have been growing unnoticed underground and only the fruiting body, which we eat, is seen and collected. This year, with the weather being so variable has resulted in some of the worst cases of fungal disease problems in our gardens and for the commercial grower. This year, the incidence of potato blight has been exceptional as this fungus prefers warm and damp conditions for the spores

to germinate and grow. It will readily attack tomatoes as the two groups of plants are closely related. Other common diseases this year have been peach leaf leaf curl, (early in the season) powdery mildew, (dry weather) apple scab(damp weather) and black spot on roses. As the weather conditions preferred by different diseases are often different, you just can’t win! The key is to anticipate the problem and spray with the appropriate fungicide as early as possible, especially as some of the older fungicides act by covering the leaves with a protective film and preventing the germination of any spores landing. More modern fungicides are systemic and get into the plant sap. Ventilation of greenhouses is an important way of controlling disease build-up as it reduces the humidity and discourages the growth of the spores. So next time you are tucking into that bowl of delicious mushroom soup... don’t think about horses!!

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Activities include:

Half term Hands On fun at Heydon

Wood Green Animal rehoming Charity Shop Restaurant Pet and Gift Shop Children’s play area Children’s ‘hands on’ events Open 7 days a week, 10.00am – 4.00pm FRee entry

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Dog’s Day Out – The Ultimate Doggy experience!

Friday 2nd November, 10am-4pm, Godmanchester Centre, Activity prices: £1-£5 Join us for a fun-filled day and discover new activities that you can do with your dog. Have-a-go at agility, teach your dog new tricks and try to beat the clock and win prizes with our fun doggy games. All Dog’s Day Out participants can attend our Family Fun session for FREE! (Conditions apply.) All activities are undercover.

Dog’s Day Out Family Fun Session

Friday 2nd November, Godmanchester Centre, Learning Centre

£4 per child or FREE if you participate in Dogs Day Out activities taking place in the main arena and annexe. Drop in session so no need to book.

Godmanchester London Centre (HQ) Centre King’s Bush Farm London Road Godmanchester Cambridgeshire PE29 2NH

Heydon Centre

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Wood Green, The Animals Charity is the Registered Trademark of Wood Green Animal Shelters, Registered Charity No. 298348.

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Preparing your body

for pregnancy

If you’re hoping to become pregnant then make sure your body is ready for this exciting time in your life. If you’re trying for a baby then you need to ensure that your body is a safe haven so your baby can develop healthily during your pregnancy. The first 12 weeks are particularly important as this is when your baby goes through major developments in a very short period. By looking after your body from the moment you start thinking about becoming pregnant you will be laying good foundations for the months ahead as your body changes. Eating healthily A healthy body weight is important for fertility. Being too overweight or underweight can affect the hormones needed to stimulate ovulation. A well-balanced diet will give you the best chance of conceiving. You should eat plenty of potatoes and pasta to provide complex carbohydrates, at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and three portions of dairy, such as yoghurt and cheese. You should also include 2-3 portions of protein in the form of meat, fish or cooked lentils a day, too. You only need a small amount of fatty foods to gain their benefits, such as avocados, nuts and fatty fish. Drink plenty of fluids - around two litres a day. This should be mainly water, but milk, herbal teas and fruit juices are also good. Keep your kitchen clean and always cook food well to avoid infections such as Salmonella and Listeria. You should start taking folic acid supplements as soon as you can and check with your GP to see if they recommend any other vitamins. Foods to avoid: Cut down on salty, sugary and fatty foods as they provide very little health benefit. Avoid blue cheese such as Stilton and Gorgonzola or those which have a soft rind of mould, such as Camembert, as well as pates as these tend to contain liver and liver products. Avoid eating raw fish, such as Sushi and shellfish such as oysters and make sure all fish is well cooked to kill off bacteria or viruses. Always check that food is well cooked, including eggs. Your GP should be able to give you an extensive list of what to avoid. Relaxation Deciding to have a baby is the first step to a major

life change. You may not become pregnant as quickly as you hoped, but it’s important to try and remain relaxed. Prioritise your tasks, make sure you give yourself enough ‘downtime’ and pamper yourself. Some people find meditating is a wonderful way to calm the mind and think positively. Exercise If you exercise regularly there is no need to stop this until the later months of your pregnancy, unless your GP advises otherwise or you take part in extreme sports. If you don’t do much exercise, now is a good time to start some gentle activities. Regular, moderate exercise (30 minutes, three times a week) can improve your physical well being and mood and ensure your body is in good shape for pregnancy. It will also help you to build stamina and become supple and flexible, which will help you during labour. Swimming, walking and yoga are all good exercises if you’re just starting out. By starting early, you are giving your baby the best chance of a healthy time in the womb, leaving you to enjoy your pregnancy.

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SEASONAL DELIGHTS AUTUMN PUDDING

Serves 6 Ready in 1 hour (plus overnight chilling)

Try this variation on summer pudding making the most of the early Autumn fruits, such as plums, blackberries and delicious English apples. Serve with softly whipped double cream flavoured with a splash of Calvados for a really indulgent dessert. INGREDIENTS 175g caster sugar 3 small English eating apples, peeled, cored and sliced 4 red plums, halved, stones removed and sliced 100g raspberries 100g strawberries, hulled and sliced 100g blackcurrants or blueberries 100g blackberries 10 slices thick-sliced white bread Extra fruit, to decorate 1 Place the sugar and 200ml of cold water in a large pan and heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Add the sliced apples and simmer for 5-10 minutes until just tender. Add the rest of the

fruit and simmer for a further 2-3 minutes. Leave to cool. 2 Remove the crusts from the bread slices. Use a round cookie cutter to stamp out a circle from one slice of bread to fit the base of a 1.2 litre pudding basin. Cut the remaining slices of bread in half. 3 Carefully strain half of the fruit syrup from the cooled fruit into a shallow dish. Lightly dip most of the slices of bread into the syrup and arrange around the side of the pudding basin, overlapping them slightly to completely line the basin. Dip the bread circle into the syrup and press into the bottom of the basin. 4 Spoon the fruit into the lined basin, pressing down gently with the back of a spoon. Use the remaining slices of bread to cover the fruit filling completely and spoon over any remaining syrup. 5 Place a saucer on top of the basin and weigh it down with 2-3 food cans. Chill in the fridge overnight. To serve, carefully turn the pudding out onto a plate and decorate with extra sliced fruit.

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Oven Cleaning! - It’s a dirty job! Why do it yourself? We clean ovens using non-caustic, non-toxic products in your home. Ovens • Ranges • Hobs • Extractors Agas • Microwaves • Barbecues (May - Sept) Single Oven (all racks/pans inc)........................£35 Single Oven & Grill Oven (all racks/pans inc).....£45 Single Separate Grill Oven (racks/pans inc)......£15 Microwaves & Combination Ovens....................£20 Extractor Fan (free filter for next clean).............£12 Hob..................................................................£12 . . .

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Bean scene

TECHNOLOGY REPort Get your caffeine kick effortlessly with the latest coffee makers and gadgets. We’re a nation of coffee lovers, so it’s hardly surprising that there’s a huge range of gadgets that promise to deliver the perfect caffeine fix. From cheap and cheerful cafetières to massive Costa Coffee-scale machines, there are gadgets to suit all tastes and budgets. Coffee purists scoff at instant, saying there’s no substitute for ground coffee. The cheapest and easiest way to experiment with ground coffee is to buy it in a tin and stick it in a cafetière; expect to pay around £10 for a simple one or as much as £60 for Bodum’s Columbia double-walled cafetière, heat insulated to keep your coffee fresh. If you’d like to turn your coffee into a latte, £7 to £15 pays for a battery-powered milk frother. Cafetières aren’t the only cheap choice: the Aeropress (around £20 online) comes with rave reviews. It looks like a cross between a cafetière and a pump, and that’s essentially what it is: it uses gentle air pressure to extract more flavour from your coffee. Using it’s just a matter of putting in a few scoops of coffee, pouring in hot water and pressing the plunger. The whole process takes less than 30 seconds. For years most coffee machines in the high street were filter ones, usually consisting of a reasonably sized jug, a hot plate and a funnel. They’re still around, but in recent years the focus has shifted to machines that make small espressos rather than huge jugs. Espresso machines come in two forms: ones that use loose ground coffee, and ones that use pods. DeLonghi’s EC330S Espresso Coffee Machine (around £85) is a good example of the former, with

a removable stainless steel filter and an integrated frother that uses steam to create perfect cappuccinos and lattes. They’re not the quietest or the most convenient - the filter only takes enough coffee for a single cup at a time - but there’s no arguing with the superbly tasty results. If you’d rather use pre-packed coffee pods than loose grounds, DeLonghi’s Espresso Icona range (from around £99) offers the best of both worlds: it works with Easy Serve Espresso (ESE) pods, or with loose coffee. As with the EC330S, it’s only designed to make one or two drinks at a time. ESE is the world’s favourite kind of coffee pod, with versions from big names including Illy, Lavazza and Segafredo, but it isn’t the only one: Nestle has its Nespresso system, while Douwe Egberts has its Senseo. All three systems offer pros and cons: they’re more convenient than loose coffee and less messy, but the coffee isn’t as fresh and in the case of Nespresso and Senseo, you’re locked into one firm’s coffee system. Senseo pods don’t work in Nespresso machines and vice-versa. Coffee snobs wouldn’t go near either: for them, the only way to make coffee is to grind the beans yourself. Grinders aren’t as expensive as you might think. Bodum’s Bistro range of electric grinders starts at £79, while Krups’ GVX2 is just £36. It is one more machine to clean however and one more step between waking up and tasting the first coffee of the day. If you’re really serious about your coffee, a coffee machine with its own integrated grinder is a much better idea - but don’t expect to find one going cheap: a good quality bean-to-cup machine such as Gaggia’s R18171 will set you back £699.

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Ace Garage Doors Quality, Reliability and Great Value

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Garden View

Seasonal treats The nights may be getting longer, but produce in the garden is still in abundance. Due to the later start of the season most plants, especially vegetables, got off to a really slow start, but when it did finally warm up in late July it meant the crops came in bumper sized! The month of October is a colourful one in the garden and the onset of autumn marks the start of the celebrations and traditions which unite friends and family and where we can share good times within our community. Take the humble pumpkin for example. Prize winning or not, it’s a fruit which when picked at the beginning of the month and left to ripen in the greenhouse, is perfect for eating, just in time for Halloween. The act of carving out the pumpkin is a family event in our house and not a bit goes to waste. The outer skin is used to create a scary face, topped with a pumpkin hat, the flesh from the centre makes amazing soup (if seasoned well) and the seeds can be toasted and sprinkled in the soup or even better onto a loaf of home made bread. A family activity and meal in one … what other fruit offers so much for so little time and effort? Autumn is the time to tidy up the garden, but don’t think of it as outdoor housework. Putting the garden to bed should be an enjoyable task, a time spent alone outside in the brisk fresh air, where you can generate your own warmth

through hard work, culminating in a great sense of satisfaction. It’s also an opportunity to be creative and plant out winter/spring bedding schemes. If traditional bedding is not your cup of tea, and you prefer something a little more ‘Earl Grey’, why not try this. Take a couple of evergreen grasses, a few attractive twigs (from the red Cornus or twisted Hazel) and some dried Allium stalks (with heads) and have a go with a little outdoor flower arranging. Then introduce some autumn flowering plants, such as a lovely rust coloured Chrysanthemum, shocking pink Cyclamen or a more subtle dwarf Aster and you’ll have an impressive display to welcome your guests when they come to share in your seasonal treats. Other jobs to do this month: • Divide herbaceous perennials and rhubarb crowns by lifting out with a fork and chopping into pieces with a spade. Replant with plenty of well rotted compost or manure • Plant out spring cabbages and harvest apples, pears and nuts • Clear up fallen autumn leaves regularly • Ensure plant pots have good drainage, and consider standing pots on feet • Pot up tender plants such as Fuchsias and Pelargoniums and place these in the glasshouse for overwinter protection.

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Take the floor

By KATHeRINE SORELL Katherine Sorrell offers a guide to fabulous flooring, from the traditional to the unconventional. Timber - Timber boards are a fabulous choice: available in a range of colours and patterns, they just get more attractive as they age. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to recondition an existing wood floor; otherwise, choose new hardwood from an environmentally friendly source, or perhaps seek out recycled boards in architectural salvage yards. Solid wood floors can be sanded, painted, limed, stained, waxed or varnished. Cheaper, but less long-lasting, are either a multi-layered or veneered wood floor, where the surface is a thin layer of hardwood attached to a base of cheaper wood, MDF, cork or plywood; or a wood-effect floor, in which a photograph of wood is bonded to a chipboard base and protected with a highpressure laminate surface. Carpet - Carpet is another great choice: soft, warm and quiet underfoot. There are two main types: woven, which is harder-wearing and more expensive, and tufted, the durability of which is related to its pile height and density (short, dense pile is the toughest). Natural wool looks beautiful and is long-lasting and fire-resistant, but expensive; while cheaper, man-made fibres may look unattractive or not wear well. A popular solution is a combination of the two (perhaps 80% wool and 20% nylon). Finally, remember that a good quality underlay is essential. Natural fibres - In a wide range of colours and weaves, sisal, coir, seagrass, rush and jute are warm and soundproof and, often, good value for money. As you’d expect, the rougher the surface, the more hard-wearing it will be – so you may find sisal and coir uncomfortable underfoot at first. Jute has the softest feel, but is the least durable. As with carpet, a stain inhibitor is advisable for natural fibre flooring. Hard surfaces - Sandstone, limestone, granite, marble and terrazzo are expensive floorings that last a lifetime, though they are hard, noisy and cold underfoot. In areas that might get wet, such as kitchens or bathrooms, choose a version that is matt or slightly textured – sanded for a rough finish, or riven for an attractive, hand-split effect. Terracotta and ceramic tiles have similar qualities but are cheaper and offer less of a luxury look. Ceramic tiles are heat- and water-resistant, hard-

wearing and low maintenance. They vary widely in price and come in a vast array of shapes, sizes and designs, but all are liable to crack if something is dropped on them. Sheet flooring - Softer and warmer than stone or timber, sheet floorcoverings – vinyl, linoleum and cork – are relatively inexpensive and straightforward to lay (even on slightly uneven floors), and are easy to clean. Lino is a traditional material made from natural ingredients, and has its own lovely patina, while vinyl is a PVC-based man-made material, which comes in a huge range of textures and patterns, many of them good imitations of stone, wood or ceramic tiles. Cork, often under-rated, is hard-wearing, resilient to water and offers an interesting, natural look. Rugs - With any flooring other than carpet, you will probably want to put down one or more rugs, adding softness, colour and extra interest. A rug can disguise poor flooring – and can be taken with you when you move. Often a good starting point for a decorative scheme, rugs come in an infinite variety of shapes and sizes, textures and colours, patterns and prices. There’s a wonderful range of hand-made rugs from around the world, including Indian dhurries, Greek flokatis, Middle Eastern kelims and French aubussons. Modern machine-made rugs can be very attractive, and you can even have a rug woven to your own design. Unusual choices • A leather floor (tiles or sheets) is warm, soft and quiet underfoot, and requires little more than regular buffing and waxing. It wears well, too – scuffs and marks acquired over the years are part of its attraction. • Concrete floors, though cold and hard, can be dyed in innumerable colours and given an interesting variety of finishes, from polished to painted. • Rubber floors have a cool, stylish look and are great for waterproofing bathrooms. They come in tile or sheet form, and can be solid-coloured or patterned, smooth or studded. • Bamboo is thoroughly environmentally friendly, being fast-growing and ever-regenerating. The stems are laminated together to form boards as strong as wood, then coated with lacquer for a durable surface.

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

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Mitsubishi Outlander 2012

BY JAMES BAGGOTT

New car launches take place pretty frequently. Audi, for example, has delivered no less than 21 new models into showrooms since 2010. In those same two years, niche Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi has launched absolutely nothing. That’s why, as car launches go, this new Outlander is a pretty big deal. So has the wait been worth it? Well, in short, yes. No longer a partnership with Peugeot Citroen (who sold versions of the predecessor), the new Outlander is described by Mitsubishi as an ‘engineer’s car’. What it means is efficiency, space and refinement were all high on the agenda – looks, however, appear to have slipped off it. In fact, it’s worth dealing with our main complaint now. If there’s one thing that lets the new Outlander down, it’s the conservative styling. At a time when design is at the forefront of our lives, the Mitsubishi will be hard pressed to stand out in a class bristling with good-looking alternatives. However, the new model does make a strong case for itself. Let’s start under the bonnet. In the UK, we’ll only get a 2.2-litre diesel engine and a four-wheel drive powertrain. Mitsubishi has worked hard on the unit’s green credentials. We drove a pre-production model, but by the time the car is launched in November, the maker hopes it will produce under 145g/km (down from 165g/km) and return more than 50mpg. The 148bhp engine doesn’t lack grunt either. With 380Nm of torque it pulled strongly on the German

Autobahns and twisty mountain roads that made up our test route. The 2.2-litre is likely to be good for 125mph and will crack the benchmark 60mph sprint in under 10 seconds. What’s really impressive though is the refinement. Inside, the engine is barely audible, while wind and tyre noise are kept to a minimum too. If we were to be picky, we did find the steering a little numb at the dead ahead, but the manual six speed gearbox was direct and pleasant to use. There was also a noticeable lack of body roll for a 4x4 in corners. New technology, for Mitsubishi at least, will also make a debut on the Outlander. There’s a lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control and a low-speed anti-collision system which will apply the brakes for drivers if it thinks you’re about to hit the car in front – at a roundabout, for example. What will come as standard is yet to be finalised, but expect the lot on the top-of-the-range model. There’s also a new multimedia system with sat nav, which is far easier to use than before and an electronic tailgate. But by far the biggest selling point for the Outlander is the two very-usable extra seats in the boot floor. They can be extended in seconds and fold away completely flat. They’re perfect for parents who sometimes need an extra set of chairs for the school run. Mitsubishi aims to sell 4,000 Outlanders a year in the UK at slightly more than the current model (around £25,000). We think that could be a tough ask with this sole offering. However, when the plug-in hybrid version arrives next year offering real world economy of 140mpg, it could be a very different story indeed. Vital Statistics Mitsubishi Outlander Engine: 2.2-litre, diesel Power: 148bhp, 380Nm 0-60mph: 9.7 (est) Max speed: 125mph (est) Efficiency: 50.4mpg (est) Co2 Emissions: 145g/km (est) Price: From £24,995 (est) Availability: On sale November Rating: *** (3)

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Last Month’s Crossword Winners Congratulations to: 1st Jean Hunt from Biggleswade 2nd Paul Larkins from Alconbury For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com

sponsors of

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Across 1 Fog (4) 3 Travellers (8) 9 Table support (7) 10 Entrance (5) 11 Clarifications (12) 14 Epoch (3) 16 Sphere (5) 17 To drink (3) 18 Uses camera (12) 21 Large sea (5) 22 Lawn game (7) 23 Mixing (8) 24 Steak (4) Down 1 Mumbled (8) 2 Snooze (5) 4 Poem (3) 5 Ice-box (12) 6 Proverbs (7) 7 Painful (4) 8 Untangled (12) 12 Amid (5) 13 Alcoholic appetiser (8) 15 Accomplish (7) 19 Dwelling (5) 20 Grave (4) 22 Tin (3)

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The Art of Downsizing

By Claudia Leaf

Neither my husband nor I were intentional hoarders. It just happened that our family house was blessed – some might say, cursed – with handy storage spaces. Built-in cupboards, understairs spaces, a loft, a shed and even a garage all served to quietly absorb our superfluous items. It wasn’t just the effort of cleaning a large house or the rising cost of gas and electricity bills that made us realise that we need to move on: it was those heaving piles of bags, boxes and overstuffed suitcases. Like the chains worn by Jacob Marley’s ghost in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, we felt the weight of our past lives bearing down upon us every time we opened a cupboard door. Our children had finally flown the nest – with the exception of the odd weekend visit – and we had run out of excuses. It was time to downsize. We started by selling some of the smaller items on Ebay. This popular online auction site takes a relatively low commission of 10% (although you should be prepared to pay some associated listing fees). All you need is a good camera and a willingness to painstakingly write up each item for sale. The information required for a listing includes the measurements of the item you are selling, details of any flaws (good sellers always note down any damage) plus make, model number, material, age and any other relevant information. Then you’ll need to weigh your item and estimate the postage costs before submitting it to the online auction. Once it’s up on the site, you can expect a nailbiting wait for the bids to come in. Sometimes you’ll receive multiple bids, sometimes none at all. Often an item will remain unsold all week and then someone will bid in the last few seconds. As the payment zooms into your PayPal account, be ready to despatch your item. You’ll need to ensure it’s well packed and sent within the timeframe you’ve indicated if you want to keep that essential 100% positive feedback score. We found online auction sites were great for selling small objects that could be easily posted, but larger items, such as pieces of furniture, proved harder to shift. You can list your piece for ‘collection only’ but sometimes a buyer will fall in love with your sale item and bid without really considering the

transport issues. More than once I’ve had to relist a piece of furniture after the successful bidder developed a case of cold feet. If you haven’t the patience for online auctions, car boot sales can provide a useful alternative. If you’re up for an early start (arrive around 6am to ensure a good place for your stall) and prepared to let your treasured possessions go for a fraction of their value, then the car boot sale is for you. However, it’s not a good way to sell valuable jewellery, antiques or other high value items. When we wanted to sell a large, Georgian sideboard that had belonged to my mother, we took it to a local auction room. The idea of putting the piece in a live auction was exciting, but we were unprepared for the fees we would need to pay in addition to the auctioneer’s commission of 17.5%. We enjoyed the buzz of the auction and fortunately my mother’s piece exceeded its reserve, but the underlying costs – including transportation, photographic fee and VAT - made a significant dent in the ‘hammer price’ achieved. Live auction is still one of the best options for really valuable pieces, but you should think carefully about using this method to sell less expensive items. If, like us, you have odd bits of low value furniture to clear, you could contact a local dealer. You can save time by taking pictures along to the shop so they can see exactly what you have to sell. Of course, you’ll need to give the dealer some leeway to make a profit on the sale, but don’t let yourself be bullied into accepting a low offer. Check out similar items on sale in the shop then offer yours for between 15% and 20% less. Successful downsizing is an art, requiring patience and ingenuity. If you want to maximise your income, then try to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ solution – such as a house clearance service. It takes time to whittle down a lifetime of possessions, so it’s best to begin the process well before you put your house on the market. Of course, it’s sad to let go of the past, but it can also be liberating. We found it helped to take pictures of the things we really loved before sending them on their way. Tell yourself that you’ve enjoyed owning these items, but now it’s time to for them to become someone else’s treasured keepsake.

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what’S ON?

IN OCTOBER

19 September-30 October Artists’ Network Bedfordshire Xhibit @ Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford SG17 5TQ Free entry Nine members of Artists’ Network Bedfordshire are exhibiting an exciting mix of paintings, prints, hats, ceramics and jewellery throughout October. For details of opening times see websites. Web: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/leisure/artsservices/xhibit.aspx Web: www.artsnetbeds.org.uk/ 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 October Tuesday Morning Walkers 9.30-11.30am RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Adults £3, RSPB Members free. £4 per vehicle to nonRSPB members Weekly walks around the reserve with a leader, looking for birds, wildlife and enjoying the site. Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 October Yoga & Relax Class 7.30-9.30pm Mind & Body Studio, Champneys, Henlow Grange 5 weekly sessions Visitors £35, Champneys Club Members £25 and Champneys staff £20 Weekly Yoga and relax class with Thelma McNairn. Open to all – beginners and improvers. Tel.01462 851243 Email: thelmayoga@aol.com 5 October The Selecter Carnival Artz Centre, Luton Web: www.theselecter.net Bookings: 01582 437100 6 October The Signals Museum Open 10am-4pm The Signals Museum at RAF Henlow is open to the public. Entry is free but official photo ID such as a driving licence, passport or over 60s Bus Pass is required to get an entry permit from the Guardroom. See www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk for full information. Web: www.rafsignalsmuseum.org.uk

6 October Shillington Under Fives Open Day 10am-1pm Shillington Lower School, Greenfields Come and visit our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rated Preschool and learn more about the fantastic childcare and facilities we have to offer. Meet our friendly staff who will be available to talk about your childcare needs and have a tour of the facilities. We are launching our before / after school club offering childcare from 7.30am-6.00pm from January 2013 for children from 2 years 6 months up to 9 years. Come and find out more. Web: www.shillingtonunderfives.ik.org 7 October Mystery and History of the Hillfort 11am-1pm RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Adults £4, RSPB Members £3, Children £3, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £2. £4 per vehicle to non-RSPB members Discover the mysteries of the Iron Age Hillfort with English Heritage expert Dr David McComish. Find out about the people who lived here over 2000 years ago and what we have learnt about this important site. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 10 October Langford W.I. 7.15pm Methodist Chapel Schoolroom, Langford Visitors welcome £3 Speaker is Mary Dominey on “Shoebox appeal Kyrgyzstan”. 13 October Second Hand Sale 1-4pm Gravenhurst Methodist Chapel Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Clothes, Jewellery and Books. Raising funds on behalf of Alexandra Coyle for Build Africa and Elephant Family. Refreshments and Raffle. Good quality clothes, jewellery and books can be taken to 6 The Pyghtle, Upper Gravenhurst. Raffle prizes (new and unused please! e.g. wine, chocolates, toiletries) gratefully accepted. If you are able to help on the day please contact Jackie on 07581 021375 or Jodie on 07765 166829.

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what’S ON? IN OCTOBER

14 October Quarry Wander 11am-1pm RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Adults £4, RSPB Members £3, Children £3, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £2 The RSPB manage areas of land around the Lafarge working quarry. Take a walk with us to discover the hills and slopes that surround the quarry and search for the wildlife that can be found here. Meet at The Lodge shop. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 18 October Windsor Castle Trip Local pick up points £32 Members, £42 Non-members Coach trip to Windsor Castle with a behind the scenes tour of the Kitchens. Limited tickets available for this very special trip, so please book soon to avoid disappointment. Phone Sue on 07971 853881 or visit www.oddfellowsbedsandbucks.co.uk 18 October Gardening with Wildlife 7.45pm Central Methodist Church Hall, Pixmore Way, LGC Members £1, Non-members £2 Letchworth District Gardeners Association talk by Geoff Kingsworth. Tel: Jo Schurch 07913 774504 Web: www.ldga.org.uk 20 October Singing Day with Peter Phillips 10am-3.30pm St Mary’s Church, Hitchin £24, full time students free Singing Day with Peter Phillips, world-renowned as the Director of the Tallis Scholars and now also Director of Music at Merton College, Oxford. The day will be devoted to preparing and singing Tallis’s famous motet in forty parts, Spem in Alium, at the beautiful Parish Church of St Mary in Hitchin. Tel: Box Office 01462 459446 Email: info@benslowmusic.org Web: www.benslowmusic.org

20 & 21 October RSPB’s ‘Falling Leaves’ Open Weekend 11am-4pm RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Free entry, small charge for some activities. A fun open weekend with a whole range of family activities, including making bird cake, bird ringing demonstrations and nature art for youngsters. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 27 October Arlesey Town Football Club Halloween Family Disco Free entry Prize for best dressed child and adult. Everyone welcome bring the family. 28 October Halloween for Children 12 noon-4pm RSPB The Lodge, Sandy Adults free, Children £5, RSPB Wildlife Explorers £4 Our ever popular, scary day! Come along anytime between 12pm and 4pm to carve a pumpkin, bob an apple, have a spooky face paint and come dressed in your ghoulish Halloween outfits. Follow the trail to find the wicked witch of Sandy! Pumpkins supplied. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tel: 01767 680541 Web: www.rspb.org.uk/thelodge 4 November Fantastic Firework Display 6pm onwards Adults £3, Children £2, under 2s Free Station Road, Lower Stondon, Beds, SG16 6JL Mount Pleasant Golf Club & the SRA present a fantastic Fireworks Display. Bar open, hot food available, Glow Sticks & Bracelets, Mulled wine and Raffle. Tickets available at Golf Club Bar or pay on the night.

Entries into our What’s On sections are free. If you have an event you would like us to publicise please email the details to whatson@villagermag.com

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Reasons to be Kind to Your Parents

When You’re a Kid

1. They buy your clothes. However terrible you think their fashion sense is now, they’re doing that with a sense of care. Just imagine how awful you’d look if they were dressing you with a sense of revenge. 2. They feed you. So indirectly, they’re responsible for deciding whether you grow up with sugar cravings, obesity, sensible eating habits or a perverse fondness for chicken liver smoothies. 3. They could wait until you have a great bunch of friends and then decide to move. You think social services are going to help with your relocation problem? Think again. 4. They tell Father Christmas what presents to leave. Yep, even that awful jumper from your spinster aunt that you had to wear on Christmas Day for the family photos. Trust me, they had a hand in that too. 5. Who do you think will insure your first car – and probably pay for the garage to fix it when you wreck it? That’s right – those mean folks downstairs who won’t let you do whatever it is you think life won’t be worth living unless you do it.

6. They will demand to see your sweetheart and if you think that’s embarrassing, wait until they bring out the photo album with you on a rug, naked, with your bum in the air. (All parents do this – experts believe it’s a pay it forward revenge tactic.) 7. They’ll pick your schools and they set your pocket money. Ask any gambler – you can’t beat the house rules indefinitely. It’s the way of the world, so get used to it. 8. Bottom line – your inheritance is their scrimping and saving. So, for every penny they don’t give you for the latest computer game, the second it comes out in the shops, a proportion of that saving will one day find its way to you. It’s like a trickle down a mountain, gradually gathering in size. 9. They love you. And the really weird thing is that’s the reason they do all that crazy stuff to you. And the more you learn about their behaviour, the more you can inflict it on your own kids and then say, “Blame granddad and grandma – it’s how they brought me up.” That’s probably what your parents say too.

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Firework Safety and Etiquette

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti Hosting and planning a party can be stressful, what with checking there’s enough food and drink to go around and organising the entertainment. Fireworks are a brilliant way to entertain guests, but whilst they may look pretty in the night sky, they can also be extremely dangerous. Make sure that in between shopping for party-poppers and paper plates, you also have the right safety equipment needed for your display. Gloves and eye protection are a must have, as well as a taper for setting off fireworks at arm’s length - you don’t want to burn off your eyebrows by mistake! Make sure that everybody stands well back, and do not approach fireworks that have been lit - even if they haven’t gone off – as there’s a chance they still could. Store your fireworks in a metal box, away from flames, so that your party doesn’t go off with the wrong kind of bang, and always keep a bucket of water nearby to put out sparklers safely. Last of all, don’t forget to tell your neighbours in

advance that you’re having a party so that they aren’t inconvenienced by the noise, and if your party is not on November 5th itself do not set fireworks off after 11pm as it’s against the law and you could be fined! On November 5th you have until 12 midnight. Most importantly, make sure you have fun, enjoy yourself, and stay safe!

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