VILLAGER The
Issue 92 - April 2014
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
Inside this issue
New MG6 Range Best of British
Traditional May Celebrations
Win £25
in our Prize Crossword
Bringing Local Business to Local People
in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages 11,000 copies delivered to over 30 towns and villages every month
ur Yo EE FR1copy
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Contents The History of Easter
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The History of Easter..................................................................4 Would You Like Any Cashback?.................................................12 Shuttleworth’s Swiss Garden Restoration.................................16 A Great Family Day Out.............................................................19 Where Budding Authors Start..................................................21 Traditional May Celebrations....................................................22 Chocolate and Eggs..................................................................25 Bank Holidays..........................................................................27 Party On Potton........................................................................28 Sandy Conservative Bowling Club............................................30 Where Am I?............................................................................32 Sandy Tourist Information Centre.............................................35 Fun Quiz...................................................................................36 Wired For Sound.......................................................................39 Hair Today................................................................................41 When Best Friends Fall Out......................................................45 We Need You - Sue Ryder.........................................................46 The New MG6 Range................................................................48 Bringing Up Babies..................................................................50
VILLAGER The
Issue 92 - April 2014
and Town
Life
LOCAL NEWS • LOCAL PEOPLE • LOCAL SERVICES • LOCAL CHARITIES • LOCAL PRODUCTS
Inside this issue
New MG6 Range
Best of British
Traditional
May Celebrations
Win £25
in our Prize Crossword
Bringing Local Business to Local People
in Biggleswade, Sandy, Potton, Gamlingay and all surrounding villages 11,000 copies delivered to over 30 towns and villages every month
ur Yo EE FR1copy
Rural Rambligs.........................................................................52 Wordsearch..............................................................................55 Animal Queries.........................................................................58 Children’s Page.........................................................................60 Home Dog Boarding.................................................................63 Detroit Motor Show Stars.........................................................64 Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies................................................67 Istanbul....................................................................................68 Seasonal Delights.....................................................................70 Testing Times...........................................................................72 What’s On.................................................................................74 Competition Time.....................................................................79 Puzzle Page..............................................................................80 Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club.................................................84 Prize Crossword........................................................................86 Social Problems........................................................................88 Book Review............................................................................91 Classifieds................................................................................92
Traditional May Celebrations
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Editorial - Sarah Fryer, Jonathan Vernon-Smith, Lorraine Wood, Alison Runman, Ted Bruning, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Louise Addison, Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Wharton, North Beds RSPCA, James Baggott, Susan Brookes-Morris, Solange Hando, Alex Albrighton and Bruce Edwards
Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com
Advertising Sales - Nigel Frost - 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Kostiantyn Schastnyi and Nigel Frost Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460
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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History
The History of Easter… By Sarah Fryer
Easter Sunday is a day when it is totally acceptable to indulge ourselves with chocolate delights and candy treats. It is possibly the only day throughout the year when parents all over the world allow their children a sugar rush before breakfast. However for all the tastiness and fun associated with Easter, there is strong religious connection to it that maybe not everyone knows whilst their tucking into their chocolate eggs. Easter has in more recent years been commercialised to a large extent by companies manufacturing Easter related confectionary, gifts and of course the greeting card industry certainly saw a gap in the market. Over 90 million chocolate Easter bunnies alone are made each year and estimated that 150 million chocolate eggs are sold too. It is important that in all the commercialisation of this very important festival, one does not forget the history of Easter. Easter is celebrated the world over to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God in rejoicing Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. It is without doubt the most important holiday in Christianity’s calendar. It has been called a moveable feast because it doesn’t fall on a set
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date every year, as most holidays do. Instead, Christian churches in the West celebrate Easter on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox on March 21. Therefore, Easter is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year. Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to calculate when Easter will occur and typically celebrate the holiday a week or two after the Western churches, which follow the Gregorian calendar.
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So where did the name “Easter” descend from? Well unfortunately no one really knows, there are various accounts suggesting different origins such as the word Easter stemming from “Eostre”, a Teutonic goddess of fertility and Spring. Other sources have traced Easter to the Latin term “Hebdomada Alba” or white week as it is more commonly known, an ancient reference to the Easter week and the white stark clothes worn by the people whom were baptised during this time. Easter is much more than just a single day celebration; it is really an entire season of the Christian church year. Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter Sunday, is a time of reflection and penance and represents the 40 days that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before starting his ministry, a time in which Christians believe he survived various temptations by the devil. The day before Lent, known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday, is a last offering of food and fun before the fasting begins. The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week and includes Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples; Good Friday, which honours the day of his crucifixion; and Holy Saturday, which
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focuses on the transition between the crucifixion and resurrection. The 50-day period following Easter Sunday is called Eastertide and includes a celebration of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It’s pretty much common knowledge that Easter is a Christian celebration of Christ’s rising, but this holiday also has pagan origins. Have you ever wondered why there is a worldwide fascination and association with coloured eggs, cute little bunnies, baby chicks and leg of lamb dinners? They are all symbols of rebirth and the lamb was a traditional religious sacrifice. The ancient Egyptians, Persians, Phoenicians, and Hindus all believed the world began with an enormous egg, thus the egg as a symbol of new life has been around for eons. The particulars may vary, but most cultures around the world use the egg as a symbol of new life and rebirth. A notation in the household accounts of Edward I of England showed an expenditure of eighteen pence for 450 eggs to be gold-leafed and coloured for Easter gifts. The first book to mention Easter eggs by name was written five hundred years ago. Yet, a North African tribe that had become Christian much earlier in time had a custom of colouring eggs at Easter. Long
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The idea of giving up tobacco products is something that the vast majority of smokers would love to accomplish. Not because they don’t enjoy smoking, but because they don’t want the health implications and the financial drain. I know this because I have smoked from a young age and could easily see 40 disappear in a day. I tried most of the ‘traditional’ methods but failed at each attempt, because I wanted to give up for the wrong reasons. The reason that electronic cigarettes are becoming so popular is because you don’t give up, You simply switch to the healthy alternative that has the bonus of very impressive savings. Vaping is very personal and my shop caters for all. Some people do start vaping just to cut-down but the vast majority have no intention of ever smoking another tobacco product, and it works. There are a lot of products on the market now due to its popularity and my shop has it covered. I will happily take time to explain the products, what’s in the juices and why I only use the top names in the industry which, along with my juices, are governed by a regulatory body. Feel free to come down for some friendly advice and sample some of the 40+ flavours I stock.
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hard winters often meant little food, and a fresh egg for Easter was quite a prize. Later, Christians abstained from eating meat during the Lenten season prior to Easter. Easter was the first chance to enjoy eggs and meat after the long abstinence. Some European children go from house to house begging for Easter eggs, much like Halloween trick-or-treaters. This tradition is known as paceegging, it comes from the old word for Easter, Pasch. Many old cultures also attributed the egg with great healing powers. It is interesting to note that eggs play almost no part in the Easter celebrations of Mexico, South America, and Native American Indian cultures. Egg-rolling contests are a symbolic re-enactment of the rolling away of the stone from Christ’s tomb. We eat chocolate Easter eggs since eggs have been a symbol of new life, renewal, new beginnings and fertility. The chocolate is just put there to spice up the taste and it has no symbolic meaning. The hollow shell of an egg stands for the empty tomb of Christ after his crucifixion and Christians worldwide have adopted the egg as a symbol at Easter. Apart from the chocolate, many children in our western culture enjoy Easter egg hunts around their garden. With basket in hand they set of to find those plastic eggs filled with sweets or hard boiled eggs, dyed and hidden in the undergrowth. Today we see many family fun parks taking part in the Easter festivities, offering a week or so of pure Easter fun, such as egg hunts, egg & spoon races, feeding baby lambs and the token furry bunny walking around the venue for the obligatory photograph! You know it’s not just in England that Easter is observed, in America it is celebrated with much fanfare. It is a tradition conducted through special Easter parades, in which men and women flaunt their special costumes and colourful bonnets. In fact their processions filled with music and colour and the passion their nation put into the Easter festivities should be praised. Americans are very big on dying their own hard boiled eggs, and in fact it seems to be a tradition dating back two generations. Beautiful reds, greens, blues and pinks are very popular in the US. Baking cookies the day before Easter is also common, and decorating your house like at Christmas is a must! In Countries like France however, the traditional Easter bunnies are not found, except Alsace (which borders Germany). In nonconformity from
Easter festivities elsewhere, Easter celebrations in France incorporate the Easter symbols of bells and fish. The French Easter fish are called ‘Poisson d’Avril’, which means ‘April Fish’. The Poisson d’Avril makes its appearance on the 1st of April, as French children delight in playing a kind of ‘April Fool’s’ trick. They stick a paper fish onto the back of as many adults as possible. Cloche Volant or Flying Bells are another important part of the Easter traditions of France. French Catholics believe that on Good Friday, all the church bells in France fly to the Vatican in Rome, carrying with them the misery and grief of those who mourn Jesus’ crucifixion on that day. These flying bells return on Easter Sunday morning and bring with them lots of chocolate or eggs. In keeping with the tradition, French church bells do not ring out from Good Friday to Easter morning. Traditions are a curious thing and it is always interesting finding how they are in another country. In France there is an old custom which is adhered to every Easter. The contest of rolling raw eggs down a gentle slope is widely acknowledged. As per the legends, the surviving egg was the victory egg and symbolises the stone being rolled away from the tomb of the Christ. For kids, playing with eggs is one of the favourite pastimes, on the holiday season of Easter. The little ones play a game, in which, the players have to throw their respective eggs up in the air and
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catch them. The first one to drop his/her egg loses the game. On Easter Sunday, the children in France wake up in the morning, to find eggs scattered in their rooms. They then head towards their yard or garden, to retrieve beautifully decorated Easter eggs, hidden in nests. That part of the tradition is very similar to our Western practises; however they generally use hard boiled eggs as opposed to chocolate ones. It’s not all about chocolate over the Easter period; hot cross buns also play a huge part within our Easter festivities. It is said that English folklore includes many superstitions surrounding hot cross buns. One of them says that buns baked and served on Good Friday will not spoil or mould during the subsequent year. Another encourages keeping such a bun for medicinal purposes. A piece of it given to someone who is ill is said to help them recover. The ancient Greeks use to mark the bun with a cross to represent the crucifixion, hence why we still celebrate today with the traditional hot cross bun. Sharing a hot cross bun with another is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year, particularly if “Half for you and half for me, between us two shall goodwill be� is said at the time, so some say they should only be cooked one at a time. Because there is a cross on the buns, some say they should be kissed before being eaten.
If taken on a sea voyage, hot cross buns are said to protect against shipwreck. If hung in the kitchen, they are said to protect against fires and ensure that all breads turn out perfectly. The hanging bun is replaced each year. So when you awake on Easter Sunday and devour that velvety egg, or sit down to a lovely roast lamb dinner with the family, just spare a thought for the reason we are actually celebrating Easter at all. To hard boil eggs, place eggs in saucepan. Cover with cold water. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Allow eggs to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and drain eggs. Rinse with cool water. Egg Colouring Recipe Ingredients: Eggs, Boiling water, Vinegar Liquid food colouring (green, yellow, red, blue*) Hard boil eggs by placing them in a saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Allow eggs to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and drain eggs. Rinse with cold water and allow cooling. For colouring your Easter eggs, add 1 teaspoon vinegar to 1/2 cup boiling water. Add at least 20 drops of desired colour. Dip hard boiled eggs in coloured water. The longer you leave the egg in the water, the deeper the colour will be. Store coloured eggs in refrigerator. Colours can be mixed to make other colours. (Yellow and red equals orange, red and blue is purple, and so on.)
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01767 682286
Easter Sunday Sunday 20th April Open Good Friday 10am to 4pm Why not send a beautiful bouquet of Spring Flowers to someone special this Easter. Giftware also available.
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Three Counties Radio
Would you like any cashback today? By Jonathan Vernon-Smith
The internet has of course brought some unwanted problems, but it has also brought some incredible benefits to us consumers. One of those benefits is the creation of ‘Cashback’ websites. Gosh I love them! In fact, I frequently bore people senseless telling them about the importance of logging on and saving ££££ on your purchases. If you haven’t come across the likes of ‘Quidco’ or ‘TopCashback’ before, let me explain how they work: Cashback websites pay you a cash fee when purchasing goods or services via their website. The amount of cashback is generally a percentage of the total you spend with the retailer. They tend to make their fee from the companies that they suggest on their site. Many of these are well known high street branches, some are lesser known retailers. They normally transfer the cashback you’ve earned directly into your bank account as soon as they receive it. So it’s a win win for the consumer. They also provide voucher codes for thousands of retailers so you can gain discounts at the online checkout. All you have to do is: 1. Register with one or more cashback site. 2. When you decide you want to make an online purchase of a product or service, log into the cashback site, search the cashback rates available and follow the link to the company’s website. 3. Make the purchase, and wait for the cashback to arrive in your bank account (it normally takes at least a few weeks and should be tracked automatically). Let me give you a couple of examples (chosen at random at the time of writing): It’s time to renew your car insurance. You get some online quotes and find that Tesco Insurance is offering you the best deal. You could of course just take out a policy with them directly on their website. That would be fairly silly though, because by going to Tesco Insurance via a cashback website, you would receive a cashback lump sum payment of £75 after completing the purchase. By going to them directly, you would have missed out on a £75 saving. You need a new washing machine. You find one you like at Currys. Again, you could just purchase it directly on the Currys website, but by going via a cashback website like Quidco or TopCashBack, you would stand to make 2% cashback on the total purchase price. That would be £8 back on a £400 washing machine. Better than a slap round the face with a wet fish eh?! You can make additional money by referring your friends and relatives to the sites as well. I always say that you don’t get anything in this world for free. So how do the companies that offer the cashback benefit from this? Well, they gain because you’re more likely to buy from the retailers that are listed with those cashback sites. The important thing is to remember to use the site. Whichever online purchase you need to make: flights, insurance, electrical goods, perfume, clothes, wine or groceries, always go via a cashback website and start saving. I always remember and since I started using cashback websites 2 years ago and have already made £237.38. So go get yourself some free cashback!
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. 12
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Local News
The Chapel Arch steam -blasted in preparation for the new paintw ork
The Cascade Bridge and rth Bridge have been restored andNo reinstalled
Shuttleworth’s Swiss Garden Restoration moves up a pace!
Fourteen months into the £3.5million project, we are delighted to announce that the restoration of Shuttleworth’s Swiss Garden at Old Warden is due to be completed in late spring / early summer 2014. Progress has now picked up pace and with conservation work being carried out on Garden buildings and features. New planting schemes, derived from historical accounts of the same period, have been installed, and all of the original ironwork in the Garden is being cleaned and re-painted. A photographic record of the restoration work is being kept up-to-date, and a very interesting social history project is gathering pace, with several volunteers helping to research the Garden’s history and its development since the 1820s. As well as work in the Garden, three new members of staff have joined the Swiss Garden project team. Corinne Price (garden manager), Rosie Straughair (community officer) and Kate Johnston (learning officer) joined the team early this year. Their task is to develop and deliver a robust audience development and activity plan for the Garden. This will include working towards outcomes such as encouraging more and new
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visitors, engaging more volunteers in a variety of roles; enabling young people and adults to use the Garden (and the lake) for education and training activities; and interpreting the Garden to help visitors understand its history, significance and, importantly, why and how it has been restored. Corinne Price, garden manager, comments “An exciting element of the project is the variety of material that will be on offer to help visitors of all ages and abilities engage with the Garden in more depth. These include audio guides, apps for smartphones, ‘scrapbooks’ which put the garden into its historical context, traditional written materials and an interpretative sculpture trail. All are designed to provide exciting opportunities to learn more about the Swiss Garden’s story.” She added, “We look forward to sharing more news on the Garden’s progress with you all over the coming months, and to seeing you in the Garden once it re-opens later this year!” A new revitalised website is on the horizon but until then to keep up-to-date with all Garden news search for @swissgarden_OW on Twitter, and we can be found under ‘The Swiss Garden at Shuttleworth’ on Facebook.
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Local News
A Great Day Out for all the family...
For members of Bedfordshire Young Farmers Clubs (YFC) the annual Country Show and Rally, held each year in May, is the highlight of the competing year. Members of the 7 county clubs each compete for their club in one of three age groups (junior, intermediate and senior), trying to gain the most amount of points per class, to be crowned the overall winner. Competitions range from woodwork, handicraft, flower arranging and cookery to tractor handling, poultry trussing, livestock judging and horse riding. There is something for every member of the family. Get up close and personal with all the farm animals on show, have a bounce on the bouncy
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castle, a browse around the stalls or simply laugh at all the antics taking place throughout the day in the main ring. There is certainly no shortage of entertainment. YFC Country Show and Rally this year is at Church Farm, Eyeworth, near Sandy on Saturday May 17th. Gates open at 10 o’clock. Children under 10 are free (tickets £7). Young farmers’ clubs operate nationwide and are open to youngsters aged from 10 to 26. Potential Young Farmers in the county are being urged to come down to this year’s rally and see just how much fun can be had from becoming a member. You do not have to be involved in farming or agriculture. To find out more about the young farmers’ clubs in the county contact Jane Helliwell on 01234 765903 or see www.bedsyfc.org
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Local News
Where Budding Authors Start...
Potton Lower School
What better inspiration can our young people boast than to have published authors start them off? Potton Lower School - making a flying start - recently invited two local published authors to share their ideas and enthusiasm amongst Years 3 & 4 (7 to 9 year olds). With the BBC’s short story competition for under thirteen’s as an incentive, both Bruce Edwards (who writes our Book Reviews and has nine novels in publication) and Annabel Walker (with two children’s books to her credit) brought their passion for writing into the classrooms to amplify the professional’s own efforts towards this end. The Potton School’s staff are to be congratulated on this initiative - a spin-off from an Everton Schools’ Parent’s evening last year - and the lively interest expressed by these children knows no bounds. Once fired up by characterisation and their own imagination, amazing stories began to take shape, some no doubt spin-offs from their
own reading, some from the media, but mostly out of their own minds. Once started on story-writing, children can gain immense pleasure from reading aloud to a class, taking reward from parent’s praise, perhaps seeing their work in print and who knows, maybe gaining national recognition. Story Writing breeds confidence, improves social skills, assists in the obtaining of better grades in other subjects and ultimately, a satisfactory position in the world around us. We await the result of the school’s many submissions in the Short Story Competition with bated breath . . .
WOOD GREEN Easter Treasure Trail The trail will run from 18th April (Good Friday) to 21st April (Easter Monday). 10.00am – 4.00pm Easter Sunday (20th) – Free kids roast with every adult roast purchased for £6.95 Captain Jack Rabbit has been shipwrecked at Wood Green. Follow the clues around the centre to help find Captain Jack Rabbit’s treasure.
Field Good Friday! 18th April 2014, 11.00am – 3.00pm. Free entry Come along to our very first Field Good Friday event and learn all about our field animals at Wood Green. Try your hand at chicken agility Make feeding toys for our field animals Meet the Pygmy goats from ‘CBBCs Pet School 2’ Learn all about our horses and ask the experts Find out more about the goat and chickens and feed them some tasty treats Hobby horse racing Children’s activities Easter egg painting competition Wool spinning lessons A fun family day celebrating our fabulous field animals.
Animal rehoming Charity Shop Restaurant Pet & Gift Shop Children’s play area Please note that facilities vary at each of our centres
For our full calendar of events and opening times for all our centres please visit our website
Godmanchester Centre Heydon Centre King’s Bush Farm, London Road, Highway Cottage, Chishill Road, Heydon Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2NH Hertfordshire, SG8 8PN Call: 0844 248 8181 Visit: www.woodgreen.org.uk Or Email: info@woodgreen.org.uk
The Animals Charity Registered Charity No. 298348.
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17/3/14 14:41:25
Local News
Traditional May Celebrations at Ickwell. By Lorraine Wood
Come along to Ickwell May Day this year to see a truly traditional village celebration, which dates back more than 450 years. Katie Bryant, aged 13, will be crowned the Ickwell May Queen on Ickwell Green on the May bank holiday, 5th May this year. May Day celebrations are held in this small village near Biggleswade, every year. It is a whole parish occasion which sees a procession of dancers gather in the grounds of the Crown Public House in Northill at 1 pm and travel from Northill to Ickwell led by the Bedford Morris Men, before the crowning of the May Queen and dancing round the maypole takes place. The May Queen and her attendants are voted for by the local school children who have danced in the previous year’s May Day. The May Queen is presented with a garland, sceptre and crown – all decorated with flowers – and is given a locket by a former May Queen as a remembrance of the day. It is sometimes difficult to track down former May Queens when they move away, so if you were one, or know of a May Queen who has not presented a locket to a recent May Queen, please do get in touch with the May Day Committee. Old documents show that celebrating May Day was an established custom at Ickwell as far back as 1563. The current form of celebrations, with
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the plaiting of ribbons and a May Queen, began in 1894 and has been held nearly every year since. If you visit the gallery on our website www. ickwellmayday.co.uk you can see photos of our May Queens dating back to 1911. Maybe you can spot one of your ancestors? On the day you can watch local children from the village schools in Northill and Upper Caldecote dance country dances around the Maypole, while older children from the villages demonstrate their skills at Morris dancing and plaiting ribbons round the Maypole in intricate patterns. It is then the turn of the adults, known as the Old Scholars, many of whom are parents or grandparents of the children taking part, to show their skill at plaiting the ribbons round the maypole. Once you’ve seen the spectacular display of dancing, cross over the road and peruse the stalls selling local produce, enjoy the sideshows and partake of some excellent refreshments including home-made cakes in the village hall. We hope the sun will shine and that you can join us for a celebration of rural England at its best. If you stay to the end of the dancing in the arena, you can have a dance around the maypole too! For more information about the Ickwell May Day Festival, visit www.ickwellmayday.co.uk
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Professional Balloon art and Event decoration Beautifully arranged balloon clusters, arches, columns and more Delivery and set up available Like us on Facebook for portfolio and special offers
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Health and Beauty
Chocolate and Eggs
By Alison Runman
It’s Easter, the season of eggs and chocolate. But what’s the latest advice about these foods? Do they harm or heal? Eggs - Research and improved understanding means eggs are no longer a nutritional Big Bad Wolf. Packed with goodness A medium egg is very low in carbohydrates and supplies over 10% of our daily protein needs. Containing just 66 kcals and 4.6g of fat (only one third saturates), it’s a great source of nutrients often scarce in UK diets; around 20% of us are Vitamin D deficient. Eggs provide a third of daily Vitamin D requirements, around half our required Vitamin B12 and selenium, and Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, folate, biotin, iodine and phosphorous. What about cholesterol? And salmonella? Research shows that cholesterol found in eggs and other foods has a negligible effect on our cholesterol levels. Our body makes cholesterol and levels are raised by many factors. Saturated fat was the main suspect until recently, when a fresh look at the evidence cast some doubts. Regarding salmonella, the Food Standards Agency recommends, for now, that vulnerable groups
should only eat hard-boiled eggs. However, a massive increase in chicken vaccination has more than halved infection cases. All eggs with the Lion Mark come from vaccinated chickens and all 150,000 tested during the last two years were salmonella free. Chocolate - Chocolate has been accused of causing acne, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes, among others. But it’s not necessarily guilty, and may have beneficial effects. • Acne. There’s no scientific proof that chocolate causes acne; research suggests foods with a high glycaemic load may be guilty. • Obesity & diabetes. Due to high sugar and fat, overindulgence may show on the scales. However, recent studies show chocolate can lower your insulin resistance (potentially reducing diabetes risk). A study of 1,500 teens showed that those eating 1.5oz of chocolate daily had less body fat and more energy than those eating 0.16oz daily, so some scientists say 1.5 ounces a day may be beneficial (that’s just a square and a half ). Experts say diabetics can eat chocolate, but should monitor their total carbohydrate intake. • Cardiovascular health, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Many studies
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suggest that cocoa has beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, improving blood pressure, vascular function and blood flow and reducing clot risk. It may lower cholesterol slightly, but only as part of a low fat diet. • Stroke. A study involving 44,489 people concluded that chocolate eaters were 22% less likely to suffer a stroke and 46% less likely to die from one. • Brain function. Chocolate can help preserve the brain’s blood flow and prevent memory decline in older people, and could be important in diseases like Alzheimer’s. • Mood. Chemicals in chocolate can raise our serotonin levels and affect other receptors in the brain that trigger feelings of well-being. • Migraine. While chocolate contains chemicals believed to be migraine triggers, recent data shows that some cocoa compounds may be beneficial in migraine treatment. • Osteoporosis. The bad news: chocolate may contribute to osteoporosis. One study of women aged 70-85 found that daily chocolate consumers had lower bone density and strength. Proper comparisons haven’t been done between white, milk and dark chocolate, but most beneficial effects come from cocoa content. So choose high cocoa content varieties low in sugar and fat, and eat chocolate in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
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History
Bank Holidays By Ted Bruning
I don’t know – you wait for weeks and weeks for a day off work and then four come along all at once. And I blame the Pope. He is, after all, the man who decides the date of Easter. This year it’s on 20 April – which is almost as late as it can be and means that we have four Bank Holidays (Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Spring Bank Holiday – except in Scotland – and the May Bank Holiday) within the space of six weeks. So if you like your precious days off well spread out, you might ask the Pope: why is Easter so late this year? And he’ll tell you the following: “The date is calculated thuswise. The ancient Jewish feast of Pesach or Passover, for reasons best known to ancient Jewish people, falls on the full moon on or immediately after the vernal equinox. The Last Supper was held on Passover, or so it says in the New Testament; the Crucifixion took place on the following Friday; so ipso facto the Resurrection – which is why we have Easter – was on the first Sunday after the full moon that followed the vernal equinox. Which this year happens to be on 20 April. Geddit?” Got it. But the dates of public holidays have always been contentious, with various people having various reasons for wanting them shifted. Some don’t want them at all: patriots to the bone they may be, but many industrialists really didn’t like the Government awarding us extra hols for the Royal Wedding in 2011 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. “Two days’ lost production!” they wailed. “That’ll cost us a bomb!” On the other hand the retailers of beer and bunting were over the moon.
Bank Holidays, you’d think, would be fairly firmly fixed. Not a bit of it. Until 1834 the Bank of England used to observe all 33 Roman Catholic Holy Days of Obligation. “This is daft!” said the directors eventually, and cut it to four – Good Friday, May Day, All Saints (1 November), and Christmas Day. But come on, that wasn’t enough. So in 1871 the Bank Holidays Act added Easter Monday, Whit Monday (the seventh Monday after Easter), the first Monday in August (instead of All Saints), and Boxing Day. And for nearly a century that seemed to suit. We all went on charabanc excursions to the seaside or (if posh) had long weekends in the country or just stayed home and sorted the garden, and until 1965 we were very happy. That year, the August Bank Holiday was moved to the end of the month. In 1971 Whit Monday, the last moveable feast apart from Easter, was fixed as the last Monday in May. In 1975 Harold Wilson made New Year’s Day a Bank Holiday in England and Wales (it already was one in Scotland); and in 1978 Jim Callaghan, dyed in the wool leftie that he was (!) made May Day – which had been left out of the 1871 Act – official. Now the tinkerers are out in force again. Some want national Saints’ days – St David’s Day and St Piran’s Day (is Cornwall a nation? You decide) in March, St George’s Day in April, St Andrew’s Day in November – to be made official holidays. There’s also a move to scrap one or other of the May Bank Holidays and move it to October to mark Trafalgar Day. Someone even proposed a Margaret Thatcher Day…I’ll say no more!
Pope Francis seems happy about the forthcoming bank holidays.
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Local News
Party On Potton August Bank Holiday Weekend
Reading through the schedule of events for your massive ‘Party on Potton’ August Bank Holiday is like watching a firework display….its all oooooooh and ahhhhhhh. We’re lining up a fantastic 3 days and 4 nights all starting on Friday 22nd August with a Generation Games Disco but I’m going to concentrate on Saturday daytime here. Everyone seems to love the carnival and floats through the town. This year we would love more, more and more floats so if you are a society, team, school or couple of friends, please come forward and we’ll organise a float ( oh alright then a big trailer) for you to decorate. The theme is ‘Through the Decades’ so anything goes. Be warned the parade will be mad. We have a 60 strong Samba band and Sound Express accompanying the floats who are being followed by a Vintage car rally and Steam engine. If you have a vintage car and would like to join in let us know. Then is off to Henry Smith playing field to listen to
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the East Beds Concert Band while you view the cars and play on the traditional side show stalls like strongest man, angry birds alley and china smashing ( not the country but that’s possibly where the china’s from). Children zone opens at midday with soft play, sand pit and giant board games to name a few. There’s a fancy dress competition, the dog show and skate park competition, magician, juggler and a whole lot more. I’m exhausted thinking about it and this is only the first afternoon. Get a jiggy on Potton because your committee are hot, hot, hot.
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£5 for 2 classes New customers or those returning after 6 months only. Other restrictions may apply • Bring this Ad with you.
Sandy - Sandye Place Academy, Park Road Mon & Wed 7.30pm, Tue 8pm, Thur 7pm & 8pm Express (30 min) Mon 6.45pm & Tue 7.15pm No need to book • Classes also in Cambourne, St Neots & other areas. For further info go to
www.jazzfitness.co.uk or call 01480 216090
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Local News
Sandy Conservative Bowling Club
Sandy Conservative Bowling Club last year enjoyed their most successful season in the Clubs 87 year history, and the Members are looking forward to the new Bowls Season starting in April. The Club won both Senior County competitions last year, winning the coveted Harmsworth Cup and Pell Shield to complete the ‘Double’ in consecutive seasons. They also won the County Fours and the Under 25’s Singles, with their respective players going on to represent the County at the National Championships at Worthing. Two other County Domestic competitions were won, the Men Winning the Crawley Cup Triples and the Ladies the Over 55 pairs. The Club Bowling Green and Headquarters is situated behind the Sandy & District Conservative Club at Bedford Road in Sandy, and plays outdoor Green Bowls from the end of April until the end of September. Members enjoy the friendship and camaraderie
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that Bowling brings; whether it is playing in the Club friendly matches, the Over Sixties, or the competitive National and County Competitions. The Club encourages new bowlers of all ages and gender, and is holding “Bowls Clinics” throughout the coming season. The first will be held on Sunday morning 18th May 2014 starting at 10.30 am. If you would like to take up Bowls, or just ‘Have a Go’ to see what it is like, then come along and give it a try. You will be made most welcome. For more information please contact: Mrs Brenda Hollands General Secretary Telephone: 01462 743 770 Email: TELNBREN@BTINTERNET.COM
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Maharajah of Sandy 01767 689743/680475
The home of perfect creations in authentic Indian cuisine...
OPEN 7 DAYS 5.30PM - 11.00PM 22 Market Square, Sandy SG19 1JA
Free Home delivery www.maharajahofsandy.co.uk
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Where AM I?
Do You Know?
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2 3
These pictures are all taken in our distribution area. Do you know where they are?
Last month’s answer Last month’s images were taken in Lincoln
Congratulations to Mr A Peters from Sandy, winner of £10 Argos voucher from last month’s Where Am I?
Where Are we?
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Horse Owners • Bored with hacking? • Fancy doing something new? • Want to have some fun with your horse? • Want to improve your horse’s manners?
Then why not have a look at Natural Horsemanship?
£15 p/h Call Heather:
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La Vida
HAIRDRESSING Professional hairdressing in Biggleswade
We welcome all clients both old and new OPENING HOURS
Monday - Closed, Tuesday 9.30am - 5.00pm Wednesday 9.00am - 5.30pm, Thursday 9.00am - 8.00pm Friday 9.00am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am - 4.00pm Salon News:
Amy has returned after her maternity leave
Over 10 years of successful hairdressing 1 Station Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8AH Tel: 01767 600510 Web: www.lavidahair.co.uk 34
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Local News
SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Guided Walks 2014
A Guided Tour of Sandye Place There are still some places for the first of Sandy Tourist Information Centre’s Guided Walks to be held this year. This is a Guided Tour of Sandye Place in Sandy and this will take place on Thursday, 24th April. This tour will give you the opportunity to view this mid-18th century mansion, once one of the manor houses of Sandy and now part of Sandye Place Academy. The Tour will start from the Tourist Information Centre at 7pm. On this rare occasion we will be able to tour the interior of this Georgian house, including the main reception rooms and former master bedrooms, all which have wainscoted walls and with many retaining their original fireplaces. We shall look at the warren of servant’s rooms in the service wing and descend into the basements, once home of the kitchens, servant’s hall, wine cellars, etc. In the delightful grounds, which retain much of their charm as when it was a 35 acre wooded park, we will see the circular ironstone dovecote, the home of fantailed doves and which stands on the banks of the River Ivel which runs through the grounds. The dovecote is the only remaining building of the Edwardian re -landscaping of the park when it was laid out in a willow pattern plate style. We will hear about the famous families who lived at Sandye Place and of the Sandy Show, once the largest one day horticultural show in the midlands and which started here in 1869. This walk will cost £5.50 per person. Please note that there are limited numbers on this walk and so please call in or contact the Tourist Information Centre to book your place. The Everton Walk The second Guided Walk for this year is the Everton Walk. This Walk was due to take place on Saturday,
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24th May but has been re-arranged and will now take place on Friday 9th May. We will meet at the Parish Church in Everton at 3.pm. As there is very little space near the church can you please park your cars on roads within the village. Everton is a small rural village on the top of the Greensand Ridge and has far reaching views over to west. Like most of East Bedfordshire, until modern times, the majority of the population was employed in agriculture. The lands and certain properties in the villages have been owned for many years by two local families, the Pym’s of Hazells Hall in Sandy, who purchased much of the Everton estate in 1903 and the Astell family. Many of the Astell family are buried in the church and churchyard of St Mary’s Church, where the walk begins. The church is built of local ironstone and dates to the 12th century. The appearance of the exterior of the church altered in 1974, after a lightning bolt struck the tower, passed through the west window, down the nave and out of the east window above the altar. After a great amount of fundraising the church was restored. Among the works to the building a new parapet was added to the tower and to restore it to its original height, four weather vanes were added to each corner. From the church, we will walk along the drive to the wooded park of Woodbury Hall, the home of Lord and Lady Errol. (Lady Erroll is a member of the Astell family.) The Astell family lived at Everton House, which stood adjacent to the church, from the 17th to the mid-19th century and in 1860 the family purchased the nearby Woodbury Hall estate. The Astell’s made
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many alterations to the late Georgian house over the years and laid out the gardens overlooking the ridge. During the Second World War the house was taken over by the army and in 1944 there was a serious fire. In the early 1950’s Woodbury Hall was re-designed by the famous architect Sir Basil Spense, the architect of Coventry Cathedral. After a delightful walk in the wooded park, we will descend the hill passing Woodbury Sinks and walk through agricultural fields passing Joan’s Wood and Hare’s Home Wood. On reaching the bridleway, which is in fact the Roman Road leading from Sandy to Godmanchester, we will turn southwards until we reach the Barn, the only remaining building of Gibraltar Farm. During the war, Gibraltar Farm formed part of Pym family estate and was requisitioned by the Air Ministry who chose this isolated spot to build an airfield. Many of the top secret SOE missions that 138 and 161 (Moon) Squadrons flew from Tempsford Airfield (so named as Tempsford was the closest railway station) in Lysanders, Stirlings and other planes to drop supplies to the resistance across Europe as well as to drop SOE agents and pick up VIP’s, etc. SOE agents, such as Violette Szabo, would spend their last days and nights at the airfield’s HQ at
Hazells Hall and then be driven in cars with the blinds drawn to the secret airfield and be flown out on various and dangerous missions, many never to return. The Barn has been preserved and carries an appropriate plaque acknowledging its historic past. (We will hear more about the SOE and RAF Tempsford on the Tempsford Guided Walk which takes on Thursday, 10th July) . From the Barn we will take the footpath that ascends the hill and which returns to Everton. The cost of the Walk is £5.50 per person (payable on booking please) The next Walk is A Guided Tour of The Lodge, Sandy. This takes place on Thursday, 5th June at 7pm and this will be a rare opportunity to view the interior and hear the history of this beautiful Tudor style mansion and the families that lived here. There will also be a chance to see and hear about the Italianate Gardens that surround the house. Sandy Tourist Information Centre, Rear of 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy Telephone 01767 682728 email tourism@sandytowncouncil.gov.uk OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday 10am – 3pm Saturday 10am-2pm Sundays and Bank Holidays Closed
Fun Quiz - Connections 1. What connects the pop groups Duran Duran, McFly and Travis? 2. What connects cards, lies and wolves? 3. Lordi, Alexander Rybak, Niamh Kavanagh and Nicole have each had just one UK top 40 hit single. What connects these singles? 4. What connects King George VI, Porky Pig and Albert Arkwright? 5. What connects the words “old”, “ink”, “range” and “lack”? 6. What connects Singapore, Zanzibar, Morocco, Utopia, Rio, Bali and Hong Kong? 7. What connects Gordon Brown, Lord Nelson, Nick Griffin and Sammy Davis, Jr.? 8. What did the companies Gillette, Accenture and TAG Heuer all do in 2009 following the acts of a famous sports star? 9. What connects Michaela Quinn, Martin Ellingham and John Finlay? 10. What connects the following times?... 12:48 am, 5:20 am, 12:01 pm and 5:54 pm? 1. They are all named after film characters (from Barbarella, Back To The Future and Paris, Texas) 2. They can all come in a pack 3. They all won the Eurovision Song Contest 4. They all spoke with a stutter (note: Albert Arkwright is Ronnie Barker’s character in Open All Hours) 5. Add a letter to the start of them can turn them into colours (gold, pink, orange and black) 6. They can all be prefixed by “Road To” to give the titles of a series of films (starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour) 7. They are/were all blind in one eye 8. They dropped Tiger Woods from advertising campaigns 9. They are all fictional doctors (better known as Dr. Quinn, Doc Martin and Dr. Finlay) 10. They are the times of day when the shipping forecast is broadcast
Before
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After
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“I can’t thank you enough, the course was worth every single penny and enabled me to have a quick calm birth and a very content, alert baby Ronnie” Sam, Melbourn
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MOTHERS DAY AT ABBOTSLEY Sunday 30th March 2014 Come and treat your mother to a wonderful 3 course meal prepared here at Abbotsley Golf Hotel from 12 noon.
Adults £23.95 Children £18.00 To Book a table please call 01480 474000 or email hotelbookings@abbotsley.com
18 HOLES AVAILABLE FROM £20 Abbotsley Golf Hotel, Potton Road, St Neots PE19 6XN, 01480 474000 www.abbotsley.com
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Technology
Wired for Sound By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
Earphones are small and cheap and fit conveniently into a bag or pocket - great if you are on the move - but they can be uncomfortable, are prone to fall out, and may not provide the best sound reproduction. If it is comfort and sound quality you’re after, headphones are the answer! The most common headphones have a connecting band that goes over the head, but if you like to jog or wear a hat or glasses, a behind-the-neck pair might be better – plus they won’t mess up your hair or irritate ear piercings! Full sized headphones offer better sound quality – particularly bass reproduction – along with options such as wireless or Bluetooth. They also exert less pressure on the ear drum which means you can safely listen for longer. Headphones come open-backed or closed. Closed headphones cover the entire ear and are great
for sound isolation, but they can get really hot. Open-backed headphones rest over the ear and allow noise in and out - useful if worn in an office or during outdoor activities where you need to keep aware of your environment. Select models with a larger frequency range and match their impedance (measured in ohms) with that of the audio equipment for best sound quality. But above all, use your ears! If the headphones sound OK to you, buy them – even if they are cheaper!
Ideally suited to provide a comprehensive range of accountancy services for local companies and private individuals • Business Start-ups • Accounts & Audit • Business & Personal Tax • VAT
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Keens Shay Keens Limited Victoria House, 42/44 Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, Beds, SG18 0AP
Call for a initial meeting: T
1767 221 000
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Registered to carry on audit work and regulated for a range of investment business activities by the institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
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Anstee Gorst
Chartered Certified Accountants
- Accounts preparation for Sole traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies - Self assessment tax returns - Cash Flow Forecasting - Vat, Payroll & Bookkeeping - Business Start Up Free Initial Consultation Phone: Antoinette Gorst ACCA or Sally Anstee FCCA 01767 650700 Ground Floor Offices, Unit 30, Green End, Gamlingay, Sandy, Beds, SG19 3LF Email: office@ansteegorst.co.uk Website: www.ansteegorst.co.uk
Ash Tree Financial Services Independent Financial Advisers For friendly and expert advice in your financial planning including: Mortgages and Home Insurance Life assurance Critical Illness Cover Income Protection Pensions and Annuities Investments and Savings Contact Christopher Goodwin Ash Tree House, 48 Sutton Mill Road, Potton, SG19 2QB Tel: 01767 262760
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Health & beauty
Hair Today‌ By Debbie Singh-Bhatti
The desire to remove excess or dark hair usually begins in adolescence, and many women and men remain intent upon having smooth, hairless skin. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, back, bikini line, or other body parts, there are many options available to remove unwanted hair, but few to get rid of it permanently. The old standby shaving is the quickest but most temporary form of hair removal. Shaving cuts off hair at the surface and new growth may appear thicker and darker because the new hair shaft has a blunt tip instead of a tapered one. Before shaving, apply a moisturiser such as water, shaving cream, soap or hair conditioner to help the razor glide more easily. Plucking pulls the hair out of its follicle and when done repeatedly may damage it, thus preventing further growth. Plucking is painful, so only suitable for small areas such as the eyebrows or odd facial hair. Variations are: threading, a traditional Indian method of plucking hair by twisting strings (good for eyebrows), and epilators, equipment which plucks out hairs en masse – good for larger areas such as legs and arms. Depilatory creams use a chemical called thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to dissolve hair. Cream is applied for between 3 and15 minutes and the resulting jelly-like substance is then wiped or washed off. Depilatory creams can burn if left on for too long and may also To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
cause an allergic reaction. Waxing is great for treating areas both large and small. Wax is warmed and spread in the direction of the hair growth and when cool is pulled off quickly in the opposite direction, pulling the hairs out of the follicle. Waxing can be done at home or in the salon, but care should be taken not to get burnt. It can also be messy and painful. Electrolysis is one of the permanent methods of hair removal and should be done professionally. A fine needle is inserted into each individual hair follicle and an electric current applied to burn the hair root, preventing it from producing more hair. Each session may take only 20-30 minutes, but a full course of treatment could take 12-18 months. Laser hair removal is not permanent but does have long-lasting results. It requires multiple treatments, and works by laser beams or light pulses destroying the hair root and retarding the re-growth of new hair. It can be expensive and painful and works best for light skinned people with dark hair. Home kits are available for purchase. You should choose a method or combination of methods that works best for you depending on cost, time available, skin type, and the desired hairfree area.
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Hidato Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.
49
34
39
33 30
41 28
19
18
26 3
1
42
24 25
5
43
15
13 11
Špuzzlepress.co.uk
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Friendly, Independent, expert advice on your personal and business financial planning
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For free estimates and advice, contact Jason Dixon on:01767 677540 or 07908 004816 e-mail: JTDixon101@aol.com No VAT payable for design and drawing services on residential projects Jason Dixon, 101 Meadow Road, Great Gransden, Sandy, SG19 3BB.
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Could you do with a helping hand?
Talk to Extra Help for the complete solution We can help with: • Cleaning & tidying • Ironing • Gardening • Dog walking • Household maintenance • Shopping • Meal preparation ….and so much more! From £10 per hour.
Visit the classic Shuttleworth Collection. Over fifty unique and mostly original airworthy aeroplanes, vintage cars and motorcycles. Find admission prices and opening times on our website. Our special events, airshows, and family entertainment run throughout the year, with airshows from May-October. Summer 2014 events now available on our website. Book online or by telephone.
01767 627927
www.shuttleworth.org
Tel: 0845 219 8978
www.extra-help.co.uk
Shuttleworth, Old Warden Aerodrome, Nr Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 9EP
TM
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Children
When Best Friends Fall Out By Louise Addison
Falling out with a friend is hard for most children. As parents we can’t protect them from all life’s ups and downs but we can help them through it. Much as we might like to we can’t take their hurt or confusion away but we can hug, talk to and reassure them. Resist the temptation to say, ‘Well I never liked him anyway. I’m glad he’s not your friend any more,’ even if it’s true! You may feel justifiably angry, but try to keep that from your child. Let them process it in their own way. Let your child talk about the issue. They may have been instrumental in the break-up of the friendship and it’s good to discuss this. Don’t apportion blame though; children are not always developmentally ready to accept that they may have played a part. Talking about treating others as we might want to be treated is a good strategy. Also don’t be afraid of sharing stories from your own childhood. It can help them to realise that bad things happen and people learn and move on.
Keep an eye open for new friendship opportunities, at school and at any out-of-school clubs they attend. Work on helping them build and strengthen new friendships in a healthy way. This is especially useful if your child has up to now favoured one friend over all others. Having a wider social network can help cushion them against future fall-outs. If your child continues to be really sad about the loss of the friendship for an extended period of time then you may need to ask for external help. His teacher is a good place to start, or your GP. Fall-outs happen to just about everybody at one time or another. Helping your child through one will hopefully teach them a bit about life and strengthen your relationship with them too.
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Local News
We Need You! Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice
Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice is planning a host of events for the much anticipated summer of 2014 and we need your help. Kicking off with the Sandy Carnival on 14th June, we would like walkers to take part in the procession representing St John’s and to collect money for the hospice. We will also be having our own stand at the carnival this year so even if you can’t take part in the procession, do pop along and see us. Our annual country fete will be held on Sunday 10th August in the lovely hospice gardens and the field behind them at Moggerhanger. Open to the public from 11am - 4.30pm, it promises to be a great day out for all the family. Last year we had over 3000 visitors. This year Star Wars fans will be in for a treat as there will be a number of characters from the films in attendance including Darth Vader. Make sure you put the date in your diary and contact us if you would like to help out. Finally, our Starlight Hike takes place on 13th
September. Last year, we had around 800 walkers and raised over £100,000. If you are considering being a part of this magical night in September by making up a team, we would love to hear from you. The 10k night time walk is certainly not too arduous with plenty of memorable entertainment laid on along the way! If you would like more information or to volunteer for any of these events; or if you would like to take part in the Starlight Hike, please contact Fay Boissieux in the Fundraising Office on 01767 642424. Alternatively you can email fay.boissieux@ sueryder.org Thanks to the generosity of the local community we have received fantastic support in the past, all of which enables us to care for people in the community suffering from end of life and lifelimiting conditions here at St John’s Hospice. But we couldn’t do it without you! Please join us and be a part of our fundraising this summer.
Relationship at breaking point? Caring, confidential legal advice about: • Divorce & separation • Cohabitation
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The New MG6 Range…
The Best of British
They’re here, the stunning new MG-6 range of vehicles designed with superiority, comfort and sassiness in mind. Let’s start with the new MG-6GT; this fasthatch has proved it handles the roads effortlessly, whilst still maintaining economical fuel consumption and low emissions. Great for the environment and consumer alike. Described as “a sporty little hatchback” the GT demonstrates first class handling with every bend you throw at it, yet gives you a feel of being sat in a family car more than a foxy little sports number. It’s surprising how much interior space there is, plus the largest boot in a car of its class, perfect for busy Mums or golf mad Dads. The GT is perfect for everyday drivers who require the lowest insurance bands and also ideal for business users with low P11D values and SMR costs. Another bonus with the GT is the many gadgets that come fitted as standard, such as air conditioning, CD player, ambient lighting 48
and on some models, In-car navigation systems. Other nice touches are little extras such as cup holders both front and back and arm rests, which you would generally pay extra for with most other car manufacturers. Designed and engineered at the famous, Longbridge site in Birmingham, the MG-6GT effortlessly embodies the iconic MG badge with superior British design and engineering. It truly is the car you’ve been waiting for.
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MG6 Magnette Who says that the British can’t build cars? There’s never been a better time to stand up and shout you are proud to be British! The new MG-6 Magnette is a Britishengineered sports saloon which really does have it all. Classically graceful and refined, the MG6 Magnette also has a fantastically feisty side which never ceases to thrill. In fact it possesses all the qualities of a classic MG which never fails to disappoint. Inspired by almost 90 years of sporting heritage and clever innovations by engineers at the Longbridge headquarters, the MG6 Magnette is both designed and engineered in Britain, a true English Rose! This new sports saloon guarantees outstanding performance, comfort, more luxuries as standard, timeless good looks and a sensational drive, all for surprisingly less than counterparts in its class. The MG6 Magnette gives opulence without compromise and offers its passengers a home from home driving experience. MG-6 Diesel Rumoured to be the best car on the market today for business use, the new 1.9 Diesel has been designed and engineered to meet all your business needs; whether it be driving through towns and cities on the daily
commute, travelling long hours up and down the motorways, or making that B-Road dash it is guaranteed the new MG6 Diesel will make for a comfortable and economical journey. The designers at MG know how sitting in one position for long periods of driving time can prove hazardous for your posture, this is why the British designed MG-6 Diesel creates an environment fit for a king sitting on his thrown. The 1.9 Diesel MG6 is also practical, efficient and indulging, everything you need from a business vehicle. With the combined MPG of 57.6 and 350 lb. of torque you get a great compromise of performance and economy. Also with cabin noise levels lower than most of the competition you can pilot your way home in quiet comfort at the end of a long business day.
With all of the above MG-6 ranges, they come in a variety of colours and have a multitude of extras that can be added with additional cost. Brown & Gammons in Baldock is a local MG dealership and the only major MG specialist who can satisfy all your MG needs for ALL MG models - from pre-war to MGF, TF and now the brand new MG6 and MG3 range. They provide parts sales, and full workshop facilities; bodywork through to mechanical, service & MOT’s. To discuss the new MG-6 range, contact Browns & Gammon on 01462 490049 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
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Garden
Bringing up babies By Pippa Greenwood www.pippagreenwood.com A visit to any nursery or garden centre at this time of year will reveal a brilliant array of herbaceous perennials. Right now they might be small and not look particularly enticing but just take a look at the illustration on the label and you will see that these small plants have great potential. They’re also great value, usually somewhere around the £1.50-£2.50 mark. It’s essential that newly planted perennials are given that little bit of extra tender loving care. Small plants such as these are more likely to be prone to any weather extremes and even plants in larger pots should be well established. When you ease the plants out of their pots, if you see a really plentiful supply of roots that usually means you have purchased a good plant. Check the plant labels to see the ultimate spread of the plant. For the best effect you generally want to grow several individuals of the same species and I suggest you choose an odd number, perhaps three, or five for a much larger garden, as this invariably makes a better display than if even numbers of plants are used. It may be tempting to plant too close and although this will provide a better looking display initially, over-crowded plants are less likely to become well established, will have to be moved in the near future and in the meantime will be more prone to numerous diseases. It’s also essential to plant at the correct depth. With herbaceous perennials you need to make sure
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that you place the plant in the ground to the same depth that it was in the container and although you may decide to mulch the soil afterwards, do remember not to mulch right up to or over the crown of the plant, as this is likely to lead to poor growth and maybe even dieback. Weed control is essential and you can either hoe regularly between the plants to prevent the weeds causing competition or you can use a deep mulch or perhaps even place squares of landscape fabric or black polythene around each plant. Do remember however, if you use polythene, rain will not be able to penetrate through it and so the plants are more likely to suffer from drought. With landscape fabric this is not a problem. I’m a great fan of copper-impregnated and coated fabrics as these help to keep weeds and slugs and snails at bay. Once you have dug over the whole bed, then it’s well worthwhile adding a general fertilizer. If you notice that the soil is on the heavy side, I suggest incorporating plenty of bulky organic matter and grit. Similarly, if the soil is excessively dry, then you could try to improve its texture by incorporating large quantities of any good bulky organic matter. Once the plants are in position, firm the soil thoroughly and do take care not to compact it if it’s on the heavy side. Regular watering is essential and if the ground is not already quite moist, you should water the plants in well. Check them regularly for signs of any pests or diseases as it will be much easier to stop something in its tracks if you start to take action early on in the season.
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Garden
Huff and Puff Rural Ramblings. By Geoff Wharton Many years ago a group of chemists developed a new substance which was given a very complicated chemical name but fortunately was abbreviated to DDT. It was quickly evaluated as being particularly good at killing insect pests. It was particularly useful because it could be sprayed on the crops only once and because it lasted a long time, it continued to kill the nasty insects. It’s use became widespread and was very effective but eventually unseen problems became evident. It was found to be accumulating in the bodies of animals which were not the original pest targets and was affecting their reproduction. Sensibly, the decision was made to discontinue it’s use. However confidence in our agricultural scientists had not exactly been improved by the use of DDT and as a consequence, many people began to think about alternative ways of killing the bugs which were eating their plants. Biological control - using other creatures to destroy the pests, became widespread and was very effective if managed carefully. Other “old fashioned” natural insecticides were looked at again such as derris dust and pyrethrum. The organic lobby were most supportive and the insecticides were reasonably effective but had to be applied throughout the growing season because they were not long lasting. However the main advantage of these older chemicals was that they were not very toxic to humans - which helps, as we are eating the food which has been sprayed! One of the ideas from the self-sufficiency books which were popular at that time was that you could make your own bug killer and it would cost you nothing. All you had to do was to visit a smoky pub and collect up the old cigarette butts. They would then be taken home and allowed to seep in a small quantity of warm water and then filtered to remove the bits. The clear brown liquid would then be high in nicotine and could be sprayed on the plants to do the killing. Surprisingly, this was an effective insecticide even though the production would be a bit messy! Now of course you would have to buy the cigarettes yourself as we have become more aware of the health risks associated with smoking. However nicotine is one of the most effective insecticides around and was replaced by synthetic chemicals because it was non-persistent ie. short lasting and also because it worked by contact only. Commercial use of nicotine is controlled because unfortunately
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the chemical is also incredibly toxic to humans. It acts as a nerve poison interfering with the transmission of nervous impulses between nerve cells. It also tends to constrict blood vessels and is consequently associated with increased risk from strokes and heart disease. Recently we have seen the rise in electronic cigarettes which are becoming more popular because they are effective in eliminating tar and it’s associated harm to human health. The debate as to whether they should be exempt from the law restricting smoking in confined public spaces continues. I would suggest however that the harm reduction is only partially effective as the addictive nicotine is still being absorbed into the body of the smoker and because our lungs are not a hundred percent effective in absorption, some will inevitably be exhaled into the surrounding air. So we are left with the problem of what to do about the smoking of electronic cigarettes in a confined public space. I have a good idea- collect them up and use the nicotine as a greenfly killer!
Geoff Wharton Gardening Services Reliable, experienced, well qualified. General and specialist garden work: Jungle clearing, Pruning, Hedge and grass cutting, Regular maintenance, Licensed waste disposal. Full public liability cover. Geoff Wharton - BSC honours Hort.Science Email:geoffwharton@hotmail.com
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GILKS FENCING LTD FULL INSTALLATION SERVICE
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GARDEN MACHINERY AND TRAILER CENTRE
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Call Mark: 07711 376 287 or Jenny: 01462 892 253 www.oakleyfarming.co.uk 56
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THE BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER
Local news, for Local Listeners by Local volunteers supported and funded by Local organisations
• The Biggleswade Talking Newspaper is one way that the Blind and partially sighted person can independently access Local news. • If you know anyone who you feel would like to have a ‘’talking newspaper’’ on a memory stick each week, free to the listener, please contact David Gentle on 07840 504940 or visit our web site. • We are the official ‘’talking newspaper’’ for Biggleswade, Arlesey, Potton, Sandy, Shefford, Stotfold and the surrounding villages. • If the listener does not have the facilities to listen to the MP3 sound file contained on the memory stick we can lend them a player, free. • A note for the diary 12th July 2014 is BIGGLESWADE TALKING NEWSPAPER DAY – look out for more details.
www.biggleswadetalkingnewspaper.org.uk We are a registered charity No 281316 established in 1981
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Pets
ANIMAL QUERIES
RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch Dear RSPCA vet, Sadly, one of our pet rabbits died recently. His sister, Molly, seems to be missing him and she is only just over one year old. Should we leave her on her own or get another rabbit to keep her company? Lydia, Colmworth Dear Lydia, I’m very sorry that you’ve lost your pet, but very pleased that you’re thinking responsibly about Molly’s needs – even at this sad time. Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviours and may suffer if left alone, and with nothing to do, for long periods. Rabbits need companionship and should be kept with at least one other friendly rabbit, unless advised otherwise by a vet. A good combination is a neutered male and neutered female. Introducing rabbits to each other can be a tricky business. You can’t just dump a new rabbit in an existing rabbit’s territory. Initially keep them separately and take things slowly. By swapping the bedding, you can ensure that both rabbits begin to become accustomed to the smell of each other. Letting them meet through a barrier of some kind also helps.
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When you do finally introduce them, expect some aggressive behavior – this should reduce with time. When kept together, rabbits naturally form a ‘pecking order’. Ideally, introduce the rabbits, under supervision, in a space new to both of them. Always provide plenty of places to go to get away from companions if they want to. Also provide enough resources (eg shelter/food/water/hiding places) for every rabbit at all times. Rabbits should always be neutered. As well as reducing unwanted offspring (and animal charities are already full of unwanted rabbits), neutering reduces the likelihood of fighting in both sexes. As well as helping re-home an unwanted animal, an advantage of getting a rescue rabbit from somewhere like the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch is that they will help with the introductions – or you can adopt a bonded pair. Rabbit Awareness Week is 10-18 May 2014 – the RSPCA Bedfordshire North Branch will be running lots of activities that you will find useful. Wishing you, and Molly, the very best! ANIMAL QUERIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch
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Professional Dog & Cat Grooming Hydro Massage Bathing Bespoke Dog & Cat Grooming Handstripping Specialists De-shedding Treatments Open Plan Grooming 38 Shortmead St Biggleswade www.hollywooddogs.co.uk 01767 600 212 Find us on Facebook
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Local News
Home Dog Boarding Bedfordshire
At this time of year we all start to think about getting away from the cold and the rain. If, like me, you have pets, it can be a problem finding somewhere safe for them to stay while you are away. I have never wanted to put my dogs into kennels and felt there must be a better alternative which would not be so stressful for them. With this in mind I set up Home Dog Boarding Bedfordshire a year ago; a home boarding service for people who prefer something different to the usual kennels. I offer a safe environment for your pet in my home alongside my two small dogs, where they will be looked after as one of the family. You can bring their basket, food and any toys they like to make them feel at home. I only take a maximum of two dogs alongside my own and your dog will have complete access to my safe enclosed KIDS garden as well as walks in the countryside every
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day. I am fully licensed by Bedfordshire County Council and have third party liability insurance. For further details contact Jane Fryer on 01767 691455 or jane507@hotmail.co.uk www.homedogboardingbedfordshire.com
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Motoring
Detroit Motor Show Stars
James Baggott reports on the big new car debuts breaking cover in Motor City It’s one of the most iconic car shows in the motoring calendar, and this year the stars were out in full force in Detroit. As the covers came off the cars in Motor City, we were treated to some key new model introductions and not just from the home American brands. The Europeans, Japanese and Koreans were all out in full force too with some stellar debuts of key cars for the UK market. Here’s our pick of the new models. Mercedes C Class - This is big news for one of the most competitive sectors in the UK market. Meet Mercedes’ new C Class, a car that’ll take the fight to its bitter rival, and better selling, BMW 3 Series. Merc has worked wonders in the cabin – the quality is stunning and will make German rivals sit up and take notice. The manufacturer says this is their ‘most agile and efficient car ever’ and will be a ‘new benchmark’ in the segment. We’ll have to wait and see about that – but there’s little doubt they’ve got the looks spot on. Toyota FT-1 - This bonkers crazy concept was created by Toyota’s sandal wearing Californian design team – but don’t fear, it’s no hippy machine. The FT-1 stands for ‘Future Toyota’ and while it is said to be a spiritual successor to the iconic Supra and 2000GT it’s really designed to show the maker’s future design direction. There’s no word on what’s under the bonnet at present, but rumour has it it’s likely to be a traditional combustion engine with high output. BMW M4 / M3 - Nothing gets car fans excited quite like an M-badged BMW and Detroit had not one, but two of them. The M4 is the new name in the line-up – the coupe version of the performance car. There’s a new M3, now a saloon only, and both share a new six-cylinder turbo-charged unit for the first time. BMW says emissions and fuel economy are 25 per cent better, though, so don’t mourn the V8’s death for too long. The new 2 Series Coupe was shown off in Detroit too – but it stole little of the limelight… Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge - If the Q50 is up-andcoming Infiniti’s answer to the 3 Series and C Class, then this is the AMG or M-badged rival. Draped in carbon fibre and drawing inspiration from the Red Bull F1 team hook-up, the Eau Rouge concept – named after Spa’s all-or-nothing corner – is believed to get a 500bhp powerplant if it ever gets the goahead. Porsche 911 Targa - It’s a name synonymous with
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the 911 and has accounted for 13 per cent of all sales of the legendary model – and now it’s back. The looks won’t appeal to everyone, but the crazy roof mechanism on the 911 Targa will make grown men weak at the knees. The rear glass dome hinges back for the roof panel to slot underneath in a beautiful fashion. We’re just not quite sure why you’d want one over a convertible. VW Golf R - If you thought the Golf GTI was good, wait until you see this! With a 296bhp turbo-charged engine, four-wheel drive and a 0-60mph time of less than five seconds it’s the fastest Golf on sale. Due in showrooms in the Spring it’s likely to cost a fraction under £30,000. Quad exhausts and new front and rear bumpers mark the R out. Audi Allroad Shooting Break - Believe it or not, this is the strongest indication yet of what the next TT will look like. Don’t worry, it’s not going to be an estate (well, not yet anyway), but the design cues shown off on this concept will feature heavily on the next TT. The Shooting Break concept is powered by the firm’s e-tron hybrid transmission that boasts 650Nm of torque and 400bhp – easily enough to see it hit 60mph in 4.6 seconds! Mini John Cooper Works Concept - With more vents than an office air-conditioning system and brushed aluminium bodywork, this Mini won’t be for everyone. It’s little more than a design study at present, with few details about powerplant or performance, but it does give Mini fans an idea what the next hot Mini will look like. Volvo XC Coupe - The Swedish firm is on a bit of a roll with its concepts at the moment. This is the second of three design studies from the firm and, like the Concept Coupe we saw at Frankfurt last year, it’s an absolute stunner. The firm says it hints at the look of the much-anticipated replacement for the XC90 – and that the production car will retain its seven-seat versatility that isn’t present on this concept.
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Gamlingay Tyre Centre
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Time of Year
Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies
By Susan Brookes-Morris
Eggs have been used as symbols at festivals since before the time of Jesus, but are now particularly synonymous with Easter and the story of the resurrection. Eggs are said to represent new life, and for Christians when they are cracked open, they stand for the empty tomb following Jesus’ rising. Eggs are also considered special, because although they do not seem alive they have life within them - especially in springtime when chicks hatch out. In previous times people gave gifts of eggs carved from wood or precious stones. It is only in the last 100 years or so that sweet eggs have been eaten. The size and range of chocolate eggs available seems to increase every year. The tallest chocolate egg was 10.39 metres tall and made in Italy in 2011. It weighed 7.2 kilograms and was 9.6 metres at its widest point! It is not known exactly who first created the story of the Easter Bunny, but it seems to have its origins in Germany. It was first mentioned in German texts in the 16th Century. In the 1700’s German immigrants told stories when they went to America of egg- laying rabbits, and they encouraged children to use caps and bonnets to make nests which the Easter bunny would fill with coloured eggs - if they’d been good. The first edible Easter bunnies appeared in Germany during the early 1800s and were made of pastry and sugar. The symbol of the rabbit was probably chosen because of its associations with fertility and spring. It is believed that Eostre, the Anglo Saxon God of Spring, had a hare as a companion. In addition to having Easter Egg Hunts to search for the eggs left by the Bunny, another common Easter activity is egg rolling. This is Visit our new community www.beds-local.co.uk
done using real hard boiled eggs, and time is usually spent decorating them beforehand. In years gone by the eggs were dyed using onion skin, today’s painting process is much easier. In the UK egg rolling is generally done by rolling eggs down a hill, and the winner is the one whose egg rolls further or survives the most rolls. In the early nineteenth century in Northern Ireland, egg rolling was described as ‘trindling’ or ‘trundling.’ Another traditional game involves holding your egg in the palm of the hand and banging against your opponent’s egg. The loser is the one whose egg breaks first. In the USA one of the most well known events is held on the White House Lawn, and involves parents and children pushing eggs along through the grass with wooden spoons. 67
Travel
Istanbul By Solange Hando
Poised on the old Silk Road, Istanbul is a glistening city of palaces and mosques, sparkling fountains, leafy squares and breezy waterways. The legendary Bosphorus flows through the heart of town, linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and marking the boundary between Europe and Asia. On the western side, the inlet of the Golden Horn heads down to the tip of the peninsula and an amazing treasure trove of cultural highlights. Named Byzantium, then Constantinople and later Istanbul, the city prospered during the Eastern Roman and Ottoman empires, with a brief interlude of Venetian rule. All left a colourful legacy but the top attraction remains the Topkapi Palace built in 1453. Perched above the confluence of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn, it offers one of the most glorious panoramas in Istanbul and fine museums displaying all sorts of exhibits, including the dazzling Imperial Treasure and its 86 carat Spoonmaker’s diamond. After such opulence, the Blue Mosque welcomes you like a breath of fresh air with a vast arcaded courtyard and cascading domes framed by slender minarets. The lofty prayer hall oozes peace and simplicity, flooded in natural light as the sun filters through 260 stained glass windows, lighting up some of the 20,000 blue tiles which give the mosque its name. It stands on the edge of Sultanahmet Square, once a Roman Hippodrome holding up to 100,000 spectators. Wild beasts and chariots have long gone but today the square is graced by a pretty gazebo-style fountain and obelisks and columns rising through the greenery. At the other end is Hagia Sophia, the world’s largest cathedral for 1000 years, later converted into a mosque and now a dark cavernous museum. The
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Chora Monastery went through a similar fate but the finely restored mosaics and frescoes are well worth a detour, just steps away from the lovely Ottoman houses climbing up the hillside with overhanging upper floors and bright façades. Meanwhile down town, the legendary Grand Bazaar claims over 4000 shops jostling cheek by jowl in a grid of over 60 streets. It’s one of the world’s largest covered markets, a dizzying place where the air smells of spices and apple tea, water pipes bubble in every corner and locals and visitors bargain for amber beads, gilded icons, copperware, embroidered slippers, leather, antiques, carpets or mother of pearl. It’s a city within a city with its own marble fountains, cafés, hammam and mosques. Shopping over, it’s good to stroll through the streets where more wonders await, here a shrine, there remains of the Roman aqueduct, the iconic doubledecked Galata bridge, packed with fishermen, the secluded tea gardens, the parks blooming with tulips and roses or the cool waterside promenade with superb views of the city’s skyline and by clear weather, the idyllic Princes’ Islands in the distance. But the ultimate treat is sailing on the Bosphorus lined with myriad historical buildings. There are summer palaces and pavilions, fragrant gardens and villas in pastel colours, now a Venetian scene, now an Arabian dream or a 21st century call as an ocean liner approaches the gleaming suspension bridge. Cargo vessels, galleons, luxury yachts, fishing boats, ferries, it’s a busy channel yet totally enchanting. The old fortress still guards the narrowest point while scenic bays and seafood restaurants beckon along the shores. When night falls over the strait and lights twinkle all around, Istanbul is one of the most magical cities on earth.
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Food and Drink
Seasonal Delights Chocolate Ripple Cheesecake
This baked cheesecake is a must for chocolate lovers – it has a really rich flavour without being too sweet. It’s perfect to serve as a dessert or sweet treat over the Easter weekend as you can make it in advance. Keep the cooled cheesecake covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving. INGREDIENTS 225g digestive biscuits, finely crushed 75g unsalted butter, melted 1 tbsp cocoa powder 200g good quality plain chocolate, broken into pieces 400g soft cheese, such as Philadelphia 100g caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 3 medium eggs, beaten 300ml soured cream Cocoa powder to dust Chocolate sauce, to serve (optional) 1 Mix together the crushed biscuits, melted butter and cocoa powder and press evenly into the base of a well buttered 23cm round springform or deep fluted flan tin. Chill the base in the fridge.
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Serves 10 Ready in 1 ½ hours, plus chilling and cooling
2 Preheat the oven to 170C, 325F, Gas 3. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water then remove from the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes. 3 In a large bowl beat together the soft cheese, caster sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs then fold in the soured cream. Spoon about half the mixture over the chilled biscuit base. 4 Gently fold the melted chocolate into the remaining mixture (it will be quite thick) and drop spoonfuls of this mixture on top of the vanilla layer. 5 Using the blade of a thin knife gently swirl the chocolate mixture through the vanilla mixture. Place the tin on a baking sheet and bake for 4555 minutes, until the filling has just set. Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake to cool in the oven. 6 Serve the cold cheesecake sliced, lightly dusted with cocoa powder and with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, if liked. TIP - For a chocolate orange version add the zest and juice of ½ orange to the soft cheese mixture instead of the vanilla extract.
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Education
Testing times
What exactly are SATs and how can you help your child through them? As May approaches, many will feel the increased tension in English primary schools: SATs are on the horizon. Officially called National Curriculum assessments, the purpose of the tests is to monitor pupils’ progress, inform their next school of their level of attainment, and provide information on how schools are performing. When they were originally introduced, testing took place at the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 3: in Years 2, 6 and 9 respectively. Tests in Year 9 were scrapped in 2008 (however the Chief Inspector of Schools has recently stated that he would like them to be reintroduced). In Year 2 (age 6/7), children are assessed in reading, writing, speaking and listening, maths and science. The tasks and tests are carried out when the school chooses. All the work is marked by the teacher and the children may not even notice anything out of the ordinary. Children are given ‘Levels’ in each area but the results are not published. In Year 6 (age 10/11), the tests cover English reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and maths (including mental arithmetic). These tests are more formal and are taken in mid-May. They last under 5.5 hours in total and children will receive their results in July. The school’s overall results form part of the information used to
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collate the school league tables published by the Department for Education. So how can you help your child to prepare? Some schools may give children extra homework, practice tests or offer coaching. If your child is worried about a particular task, talk to their teacher as they should be able to offer reassurance and support. Read regularly with and to your child. As you do, talk about what you are reading and make sure they understand the meaning behind the words. Ask, for example, Why did he do that? How is she feeling now? Try some mental maths problems in spare moments. Ask quick-fire multiplication questions, or challenge them to work out how much change you will receive when out shopping. Time is a concept that children often find tricky. Can they work out how long you will have to wait for the bus, or when a 45-minute TV programme will finish? The most important thing is to try and minimise any stress children are feeling and encourage them to just do the best they can. The aim of the SATs is simply to see how much they have learned and, if they panic, they are more likely to make mistakes. Good luck! By Alex Albrighton
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Country Stoves Quarter page Advert:Layout 1 10/03/2
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n O s ’ t Wha 1 April Potton Ladies Club 7.30pm The Working Men’s Club (Potton Club and Institute), Station Road, Potton Visitors £3 Please note change of venue. Speaker for April will be Damien O’Dell on his “Adventures of a Ghost Hunter”. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 April Groovy Tuesday 8pm Queen’s Head, 2-4 Cambridge Road, Sandy Local live musicians with an open mic opportunity once a month, a folk night once a month and iPod Jukebox in between. Every week has a theme and guests are invited to suggest tracks they would like to hear played, with the added fun of a “beat the DJ” challenge - if someone suggests a track that the DJ can’t play, they win a small prize. 2 April Folk Evening 7pm Moggerhanger Village Hall First Wednesday every month. Open floor folk session evening. Tel: Chris 01767 640242 for more info 2 April Ready or Not 7pm for 7:30pm The Comrades Club, Godmanchester The Cambridgeshire branch of the Western Front Association is pleased to present a talk entitled “Ready or Not - How prepared for war in 1914 was an Infantry Captain with 15 years’ service?” by Steve Warburton based on the experience of Capt. CH Lucas, Royal Berkshire Regiment. Non-members most welcome. Web: www.westernfrontassociation.com 2 April Gamlingay & District Gardening Club 7.30pm WI Hall, Gamlingay Visitors £2.50 Talk by Sue Robinson The Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll and Lutyens’. The Club meets the first Wednesday of most months. Visitors always welcome. 4-11 April Friday Frugal Lent Lunches 11.45am-1pm Baptist Church Hall, Sandy Bread rolls, cheese or ham, tea or coffee served by Churches Together. Donations to Christian Aid. Everyone very welcome to the last two of our Lent lunches! 4, 11, 18 & 25 April Sandy Ukulele Group 7-9pm Baptist Chapel Hall, Bedford Road, Sandy The Sandy Ukulele Group meets every Friday night. Visitors and new member welcome for a sing and a strum. Email: Sandyukulelegroup1@gmail.com Web: www.sandyukulelegroup.com
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5 April Car Boot /Table Top Sale 10am-1pm The Stuart Memorial Hall Tempsford Pitches or Table Tops £5 in advance. Come and sell some unwanted gifts /items. Telephone Meryl or just come along on the day. Tel: Meryl 01767 649873 5 April Aragon Lacemakers 10am-3pm Garden Room, Moggerhanger Park Aragon Lacemakers will be making bobbin lace. 5 April Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk by Janet Buist on ‘The wonderful world of Salvias’. Janet is a nursery owner and a member of our group. Plants for sale. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5 & 6 April Easter Story Trail Sat 10am-12 noon, Sun 2-4pm Sandy Baptist Church Walk the streets of Jerusalem, visit the last supper, rest in the garden of Gethsemane - have your view of Easter changed forever. Group guided tours also available 7-11 April. Tel: Revd. Beth Powney 01767 680838 Email: pastor@sandybaptistchurch.org 11 April Clairvoyant Evening Doors open 6.45pm Wyboston, Chawston & Colesden Village Hall, Wyboston Admission £4.50 With Lesley Parker and Caroline Tobin (two local Mediums). Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 11 April Bingo Night 7.30pm Moggerhanger Village Hall Monthly Bingo Friday night with cash prizes, raffle and licensed bar. Also open the box. All proceeds to support the Village Hall. Tel: Carolyn 01767 640727 12 April Eyeworth Eggstravaganza, 2-4pm, Eyeworth Village Hall Anna’s flowers & gifts, Phoenix cards & Treasunique Jewellery. Easter Egg hunt, face painting & games, raffle, refreshments, homemade crafts, produce & delicacies. Nearly new DVDs & books. In aid of All Saints’ Eyeworth. Contact Abi (01767 631864). 13 April Cambridge Gliding Centre Open Day 10am-4pm Gransden Lodge Airfield Free admission Find out about the sport of gliding. Trial flights with our qualified instructors available on a first-come, first-fly basis. Refreshments. The airfield entrance is on the B1046 between Little Gransden & Longstowe, opposite Gransden Lodge Farm. Web: http://www.glide.co.uk/ for more information
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14 & 28 April Biggleswade Cancer Support Group 1-3pm Meeting Rooms, Baptist Church, London Road Biggleswade A support group has been set up for Cancer patients, families and friends in the Biggleswade area. It is a place to meet with others who will understand and provide mutual support. Come and have a chat, a cup of tea or coffee in a friendly confidential environment. Tel: 07812 796581 Email: csgbiggleswade@gmail.com Facebook: BIGGLESWADE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 20 April Biggleswade Antiques Fair 9.30am-4pm The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Entrance £1.50 A diverse range of antiques and collectables. Cafe serving breakfast, lunches and afternoon tea. Tel: 01480 382432 or 07906 647346 Web: www.madisonevents.co.uk 22 April Knit and Natter 10am-12 noon St John’s Church, Blunham Road, Moggerhanger This popular group meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Wools, needles and know-how are available and the nattering is quite as busy as the knitting. Newcomers are always very welcome. 24 April Potton History Society Meeting 8pm The Community Centre, Brook End Potton ‘What did he say?’ presented by Jim Brown. Local expressions and dialect are part of the character of an area. Jim Brown has researched our area to provide an amusing insight into the conversation and habits of local folk. Visitors and new members always welcome. Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.com 25 April Table Top Sale 6pm Wyboston, Chawston & Colesden Village Hall, Wyboston Stalls £5 Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 25 & 26 April Gamlingay Players Doors open 7pm, performance begins 7.30pm The Eco Hub, Gamlingay Advance tickets: Adults £8.50, Concessions £7 On the door Adults £9, Concessions £7.50 Gamlingay Players present “Fawlty Towers - The Hotel Inspectors”, together with “Charity Begins” and “You Can’t Take it With You”. Tickets from Gamlingay Eco Hub, The Cutting Mill, Gamlingay or online. Licensed bar available. Web: www.gamlingayplayers.co.uk 26 April The Easy Introduction to Gardening with Alpines 9am-4.15pm Stratton School, Biggleswade £15 A study day with three lectures, a choice of workshops (photography, starting out or practical session) and lunch included. There will be nurseries from whom to buy plants, expert help and advice. Tel: Robert Amos 01767 627487 Web: www.bedfordshirealpines.com
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26 April Sandy Historical Research Group Exhibition 11am-3.30pm Sandy Baptist Hall Admission £1, Members free Tel: Group Secretary Richard Barlow 01767 226392 26 April A Musical Evening to Remember 7.30pm Methodist Church, Biggleswade Road, Upper Caldecote, SG18 9BL Tickets £7, accompanied children under 12 free A concert by Peregrine Recorder Orchestra with guest Barbershop Quartet ‘Double Take’. Raising funds for Sue Ryder, St John’s Hospice, Moggerhanger and the Methodist Church. 2 May Performers & Pints 21: The Rising Sun Beer Festival Special 9pm-midnight The Rising Sun, 11 Everton Road, Potton (main bar downstairs) Free entry Big artists in little Potton. A great community night out of fresh live music for all. Four exceptional performers x 30 mins each = one incredible evening of quality & diversity. Come and help us kick off the Rising Sun Beer Festival in style! Web: www.facebook.com/performersandpints Twitter: @PerformersPints 3 May Renaissance to Broadway and Beyond 7.30pm St Swithun’s Church, Sandy Tickets £8 including post-concert refreshments East Bedfordshire Chamber Choir presents ‘Renaissance to Broadway and Beyond’, a concert of popular vocal music through the centuries from madrigals to jazz standards. Tel: Tickets Juliet Jones 01767 226123 4 May 10.30am Scavenger Hunt Have some fun with the whole family running around Potton finding clues and gathering items from the Scavengers List. Free to take part, followed by one of our tasty BBQ’s in the George and Dragon from 12:30pm. Further details can be found on www. partyonpotton.org.uk 10 May Sandy Horticultural Association Trip 9am £26 per person Coach trip to Bressingham Gardens, Norfolk. Tel: Bookings 01767 448795 16-18 May Moggerhanger Plant Sale Fri 10am-1pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 1-4pm The Pink Cottage, 64-66 Blunham Road, Chalton, Moggerhanger Friday – coffee morning; Saturday – Ploughman’s Lunches and cream teas. Herbs, Vegetable plants, Bedding, Perennials, Tomato Plants, Planters, Baskets, Cake, Stall, Raffle, Pickles & Preserves and more... All proceeds to St John’s Church, Moggerhanger
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DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery
Conservatories • Doors • Windows Staircases Handmade Kitchens Handmade Bedroom Furniture
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Julian Biggs Plumbing Advert:Layout 1 17/05/2013 14
Comet Cleaning Services Commercial & Residential Cleaners • Commercial and Domestic Cleaners • Builders/Landlord Cleans • Experienced and Personal Service
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The
Ironing Fairy Do you hate ironing, or just don’t have time to do it?... ...Then let me do it for you! • Friendly, reliable 1 to 1 service from a business that cares! • Affordable prices, and can pick up and drop off to your door. • Non Smoking home with plenty of references from happy customers.
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Gary Tasker Plumbing Complete bathroom refurbishments All trades covered 25 years experience
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Competition
Competition Time Solve this easy quiz and win a copy of ‘Wildlife through the Year’ signed by the author. Find the answer to each of these 7 questions, then take the initial letter(s) from each answer and put them in the stated order to make a 9-letter word. 1 & 6. This bird sings in late winter and early spring, often from the topmost twigs of a tall tree and has the nickname ‘Storm Cock’ because it often sings even on very windy days. 2. This native plant is a climber, often seen on trees and walls, and has greenand-yellow flowers in late autumn and black-coloured berries in winter. 3 & 7. Despite its name, this low-growing native plant with purple or pinkish flowers is unrelated to 2, but is related to Catmint and Selfheal. 4. Voted Britain’s National Bird, it is here throughout the year and is featured on many Christmas cards. 5. Britain’s only venomous snake, sometimes called the Viper. 6. See 1. 7. See 3. 8. In George Ellis’s rhyme, this month is said to be ‘Breezy‘, following ‘Droppy’ and preceding ‘Sneezy.’ 9. The song of this scarce bird is said to resemble a distant two-stroke engine, it is camouflaged to look like a piece of wood and has lots of strange nicknames, such as ‘Goatsucker’ and ‘Flying Toad.’ The 9-letter word is a natural phenomenon. What is it? Send your answer by post to Wildlife Competition, The Villager Magazine, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP or by e-mail to nigel@villagermag.com The closing date is 18th April 2014. The winner will be the sender of the first correct answer selected at random by the Editor on the closing date. (If you don’t win, you can buy a copy for £9.95 from your local bookshop (quote ISBN 978-1-291-66252-8) or for £9.95 + £1.80 p&p from Wildlife book, Fountains, Park Lane, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NJ.)
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Codeword 1
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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. 80
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Repairs to Windows, Doors & Conservatories • • • • • • •
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J. Jenkins
Building Services Extensions New Build Renovations Garage Conversions Loft Conversions Kitchen Fitting Driveways and Patios
For all your building needs Call John on 01767 222219 or 07831 283296 Email: chippyjenkins@gmail.com References available on request
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Local News
St Asaph
Biggleswade Sandy Lions Club Many years ago, the Lions set up a Disaster Fund to help those who suffer from accidents or natural disasters, principally floods, which leave such hardship. When a disaster occurs, clubs from the affected area apply for a grant. This grant is then administered by the local Lions in the area to help provide some immediate relief. In November 2012, the river Elwy burst its banks in St Asaph, North Wales, resulting in serious flooding in many parts of this small city. The water quickly rose to a depth of four feet, giving residents no time to move their furniture to a dry area. Many of the 400 properties were bungalows with no upstairs, inhabited by the elderly and vulnerable. The grant was shared out, with the worst affected getting the larger grant. You will remember the disaster at Cockenmouth, Stonehaven and Morpeth for example, where large grants from the Lions Disaster Fund were also made. We are all very aware of the severe flooding of 40 square miles of the Somerset Levels with villages
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cut off and only accessible by boat or 4x4 vehicles. A mammoth task faces affected residents – drying out, cleaning, emergency repairs and replacing white goods, bedding and clothing etc. The local Lions have not surprisingly applied for a Disaster Fund grant and an appeal has gone out to all Lions Clubs for donations to the Fund. It was not only the Somerset Levels that have been badly affected, but also the Severn and Thames Valleys where people will also need help. Biggleswade Sandy Lions responded immediately to the appeal and sent a large donation to the Disaster Fund. Biggleswade Sandy Lions has been going since 1978 and we are always looking for new members, men and women. Why not visit our website www. biggleswadesandylions.org.uk or speak to Dave or Judith on 0845 833 9749. Come and meet us on 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at Biggleswade Conservative Club. LIONS HELP
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ROOFLINE PRODUCTS INSTALLED BY THE PROFESSIONALS
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Prize
The Villager Prize Crossword
£25
Across 1 Denied (7) 5 Not ours (5) 8 Amazing (9) 9 Spot (3) 10 Nap (5) 12 Replies (7) 13 Nearly (13) 15 Mum’s mother (7) 17 Healed (5) 19 Lodging house (3) 20 Ethereal (9) 22 Dizzy (5) 23 Convent (7)
and send to the address below before
18th April 2014 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Name:
Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page
Down 1 Disagreements (5) 2 Supporter (3) 3 Used for cleaning (7) 4 Insistence (13) 5 Sailboat (5) 6 Vests, boxers (9) 7 Fulfil (7) 11 Made clear (9) 13 Fishing (7) 14 Sale by bidding (7) 16 Covered with fine powder (5) 18 Hold up (5) 21 Employ (3)
Tel:
Address:
Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mrs D Taylor from St Neots For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com 86
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KEMP GARAGE DOORS SALES • INSTALLATION • REPAIRS • Family Run Business • 25 Years Experience • Up and Over • Sectional and Roller Doors www.kempgaragedoors.co.uk • Security Shutters
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Technology
Social Problems By Louise Addison
There is a joke doing the rounds which goes: The best thing about being a teen in the 1980s is that we made all our big mistakes before the internet was invented! There is much truth in that. When your teen tweets or posts a picture to Instagram, he or she probably doesn’t think about how it might affect her tomorrow, let alone how it might affect her chances of getting a job. The hard truth is, that what we send into cyberspace can be difficult to erase. There have been some recent news stories about young people losing jobs, or not even getting an interview, based solely on what someone from the company has seen on MySpace or Facebook. Many employers now use social media profiling to screen potential employees. Vetting a candidate’s social media profiles can give employers an insight into someone’s personality, character or work ethic. If your teen’s profile is not set to ‘private’ it will be accessible to a potential employer and their content found through search engines like Google. This is true for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It may be unfair and discriminatory but it happens, and even fairly innocuous material might be judged harshly by someone who doesn’t know the person involved. You can help by getting involved in your child’s social media presence. Become familiar with the tools they use, and offer advice to save them from making mistakes which may be difficult to correct. The good news is that you can help your teen clean up their social media sites before they get ready to apply for jobs. Take an afternoon to
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go through each social media profile and delete any inappropriate photos or comments. There are some software products which can help, like SimpleWash, though these generally don’t apply to photos. So does this mean you should stop your teen from using any social media? Most experts say that this isn’t necessary. In fact a well-handled social media profile can be very beneficial. It allows young people to connect with those in the industry they’re trying to break into. By engaging with other professionals they can show that they’re both serious and knowledgeable.
Top Tips for Teens • Keep just one social media profile where you post personal information. • Make sure main profile photos and cover photos are conservative. • If something is even slightly questionable, do not post it publicly. • Be careful what you ‘like’ or comment on. If the person posting has a public profile your comment will be visible too. • Make your public image one you’d be happy to show to anyone, even your great granny. • Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know, or if you must, then put them on a ‘restricted’ list, but remember that privacy filters on social networking sites are subject to change and are not fail-safe. Check filters regularly. • The top tip to take away from the experts is to keep your profile private!
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proactive heating & environmental services
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T&R Roofing Ltd
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• Felt Roofing Specialists (10 year & 15 year guarantee on high performance felts) • Tiling, Slating, Guttering • UPVC Facia/Soffits • Chimney Work
All NEW work guaranteed Fully insured for employer & Public Liability Call Tony Simpson for a FREE estimate on:
01767 314847 mob. 07831849847 90
Restore, Don’t Replace, Let ChemDry G&S Revitalise & Extend The Life Of Your Carpets & Upholstery
Enjoy the many advantages of choosing ChemDry G&S: • •
• • •
2 3for
ON ENTI UM T N YO ADVER um E H W THIS minim ct to Subje order
• • • • • • •
Independently owned and operated
Dries in 1-2 hours, not 1-2 days ChemDry resists resoiling - so your carpet fibres stay cleaner longer Carpet and Rug Cleaning Upholstery Cleaning Hard Floors Cleaned and Repaired Oriental Rug Specialist Cleaning Leather Cleaning Dust Mite Anti-allergen Treatment Carpet Spot and Stain Removal Carpet Protection Stone and Tile Flooring Amtico & Karndean Flooring
Call Us Today on 01604 621562 or 01234 880567
www.chemdrygs.co.uk
Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts
Mark Dilley Electrical Part P Registered Company 22386 Extra sockets - Lighting Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers Inspections No job too small Free estimates All work to BS7671 regulations City and Guilds qualified
Tel: 01767 261008 Mob: 07990 895430
mark.dilley@btinternet.com
D.S. LEWIS CARPENTRY & BUILDING
• Property Maintenance & Improvements • Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms • Flat Pack Furniture Assembly • Extensions, Garage Conversions
PK Cleaning Services Est. since 1988
z Professional
Carpet and Upholstery cleaning z Window cleaning z UPVC Fascia cleaning z Patio and Driveway cleaning z Gutter and Soffit cleaning
• New Build & Refurbishment
Carpentry Contracts Welcome
01480 473 524 M: 07967 184 163 T:
E: danlewis.carpentrybuilding@gmail.com Fully Insured Established 1990 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
Free Estimates. Friendly and reliable service.
Paul Kaiser
Home 01767 222822 Mobile 07812 335860 Visit us on www.pkcleaningservices.net 91
Books
BOOK REVIEW
Builders
By Bruce Edwards
“YOUNG’S BUILDERS” “YOUR LOCAL PROFESSIONAL MASTER BUILDERS” “QUALITY AND VALUE FROM START TO FINISH”
The Lives Of Stella Bain Anita Shreve Pub: Little Brown h/b £16.99
Garage conversions from £5.9K
With the constant barrage of grim nostalgia emanating from all quarters as the 1914-18 war continues to be brought back to mind, it isn’t surprising that well-placed authors seize on the fervour. Opening the story in a field hospital in Marne in 1916, we find our Stella, injured, perplexed, and disorientated, but recoverable. In due course she helps nurse the torrent of wounded men, drives ambulances - and suddenly, is faced with the wreck of her former lover from a former existence. The consequences are deeply troubling, with a memory loss and psychological disasters. Chancing her luck back in London she finds - and becomes attached to - a Doctor who is able to treat her. Stella metamorphoses into the real woman, Etna, legally Mrs Van Tassel, an American citizen. A strange artistic talent brings her a new career - but there’s still Nicodemus, her husband’s child, to be reconciled with his mother after her absence in France and there’s peace to be made with her former lover. How complex can it get? But Shreve’s ability to weave intricate stories in simplistic and conversational fashion is remarkable, and she’s an old hand with this type of plot. Her knack has not deserted her, despite bringing rape, divorce proceedings and the blessings of a new relationship into play. Maybe there’s a strange inevitability about the way the warp and weft of the tale creates a tapestry of light-hearted delight over the darker background but it is one that really works.
92
• • • • •
Extension - Sunrooms
Call 07811 985568 or 01767 261803 www.youngsbuilders.co.uk “Free quotes • Excellent references”
Extensions & Sunrooms Garage & Loft Conversions Walls, Patios & Decking General Building Work Property Maintenance
Decorating Services
DECORATING SERVICES
• Over 25 years experience • No job too big or too small • Free estimates T: 01767
222 028
M: 07887
618 832
email: topcoat@ntlworld.com
Domestic Repairs JB Domestic Guaranteed Repairs To: Washing Machines Tumble Dryers Electric Ovens/Cookers Dishwashers No Call Out Charge! Tel: 01767 680621 Mobile: 07778 891490
Domestic Repairs
Domestic Appliance Repairs Washing Machines • Cookers Fridges • Vacs • Dryers
Bill Tangye
Beds Tel By or appointment only - 4 Stratford Road, Sandy, Mob 01767 650750Tel: 07711 07802 393331 257105
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Classifieds Electricians
Garden Machinery Service/Repair Garden Machinery & Mowers Expert Service and Repair Collection & delivery available Unit 12a Whites Farm, Great North Road, Biggleswade SG18 9BE Tel: 01767 600085 Mob: 07593 553581
Foot Health Practitioner Amy Hobbs MAFHP, MCFHP
Foot Health Practitioner Please contact me if you have any footcare problems as I offer a domiciliary service and can help with corns, callus, nail cutting, verrucae and ingrowing toenails.
Handy Man
MIKE NEIGHBOUR Carpenter and Joiner Glass Splashbacks for Kitchens Cupboards, Fitted Wardrobes, Loft Ladders etc 30 Years Experience
Mobile: 07500 046012 Tel: 01767 222282
Garden Specialist
01767 677898 or 07711 311956
Handy Man
Local, honest, professional service
Garden Specialist
Oven Cleaning
Hatley Garden Services
parent company est. 1998
Single Oven (all racks/pans inc) ..........................................£40 Single Oven & Grill Oven (all racks/pans inc) .......................£50 Single Separate Grill Oven (racks/pans inc) ........................£15 Microwaves & Combination Ovens ......................................£20 Extractor Fan (free filter for next clean)...............................£15 Hob ....................................................................................£15 Bulbs ............................................................................... £2.50 Agas and Ranges priced accordingly. V.A.T free
Reliable Trustworthy Service Fully Insured
Border Care/Shrub Pruning, Hedge Trimming, Fence repair/Painting, Lawn Care, Turf laying Long Term Garden Maintenance, One Off Garden Tidy
Please call me (Kevin) for a free estimate: Tel: 01767 631174 Mobile: 07742 832810
Contact James on: 01767 260188 or Mobile: 07812 666081 email: ovenmen@live.co.uk You can also book at www.ovenmen.com
To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
93
Classifieds Plastering Services
Kitchen & Bathroom Fitter
Steve Swain
M. Philmore (Phil) - Kitchen and Bathroom Fitter
Plastering, Painting & Decorating
Disabled showers supplied and fitted. General plumbing.
Painting & Decorating Plastering, Pebble Dashing Rendering, Screeding
57 Green Acres, Gamlingay, Beds. SG19 3LR Tel: 01767 650619 Mobile: 07870366414
Mob: 07887 861881 Tel: 01767 226404
Ponds
Painting Services
Ponds
Water Features and Aquaria Gary Clarke Mob: 07768 070674 Tel: 01767 601198 Design, Construction, Maintenance, Cleaning, Troubleshooting. Specialising in Japanese Koi and Fish Health. 25 Years Experience www.echigo-imports.com Email: info@echigo-imports.com
Pet Services
Private Car Hire
Plastering Services
Private Car Hire
James Geekie Plastering All types of plastering - big or small
94
Mats Cars Private Hire Potton Based
4+7 Seater Cars Available
Interior/Exterior Work Undertaken Re-skim Rooms, Walls, Artex & Ceilings Dry Lining and Screeding
Airport/Stations/Nights Out etc Local and Long Distance
Tel: 07792 415356 or 01767 317161 Email: james.geekie@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 01767 261871 Mob: 07983 218367 www.mats-cars.co.uk All major credit/debit cards accepted
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Classifieds Property Improvements
Property Repairs
Gas & Oil Boiler Installations Boiler Servicing & Repairs 3D Kitchen Design and Installation Home/Garage Renovations Total Bathroom Installations Please call Office: 01462 819590 Mob: 07876 400005/07769 580972
Property Improvements Property Improvements by
A professional property maintenance service
Gary Hare Carpentry • Kitchens • Bedrooms Decorating • Flooring Bathrooms •Tiling • and more...
Tel: 01767 651821 Mob: 07773 973420
Removals & Storage 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
01767 313230
enquiries@stephensremovals.com
Property Improvements
Stephens Dinky ad_03.indd 1
Property Improvements
Storage
GB
GARY BERRIDGE
Security Services
Domestic & Commercial Storage (Near Potton)
Caravans and Cars Welcome Short and long term rates Secure site, cctv with full gated access 7 days a week
Plasterer & General Maintenance Including UPVC Doors and Windows Tiling, Painting and Decorating Free Quotes
T: 01767 316485 M: 07582 485155 E: garyberridge@ymail.com
3/12/12 11:45:18
New storage containers just arrived Please call 01767 260248 or 07970 292055
To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122
95
01767 682789
Fantastic offer at Friends this April to celebrate our 1st year in our new premises Book in to see us during April for a full head colour service and receive a colour express service absolutely FREE. We launched our new colour services in February and we love them as a salon for so many different reasons for example: keep your colour topped up in between appointment times, brighten your colour, more cost effective. Terms and conditions apply for more details please call the salon on 01767 682789 and talk to our team, a fantastic offer not to be missed.
OPEN GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER SATURDAY Opening Hours: Mon, Tues & Fri 9.30 - 6.00pm, Wed & Thurs 9.30 - 9.00pm, Sat 8.30 - 4.00pm www.friendsfivestarhairdressing.com facebook.com/friendshair Friends Five Star Hairdressing 1 Market Square, Sandy, Beds SG19 1HT Tel. 01767 682 789