Potton Magazine 2013 by debi1977

VILLAGER The

Issue 87 - January 2013

and Town

Life

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

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

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VILLAGER

In this Issue

Issue 87 - January 2013

The

and Town

Life

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

Little Venice

Quaint, Authentic Italian

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

P&R Bathrooms

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Second To None Service

Editorial Solange Hando, Katherine Sorell, Pippa Greenwood, Geoff Wharton, James Baggott, Sarah Brookes, Claudia Leaf, Sarah Davey, Helen Taylor, Debbie Singh-Bhatti, Liz Burfield, Alex Brown, Chris Russell, Derek Thompson and Ted Bruning. Advertising Sales Nigel Frost nigel@villagermag.com Photography Front Cover - Has1Sue Where am I? Images - Adam Bent Design and Artwork Design 9 Tel 07762 969460 Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton Beds. SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

VILLAGER The

and Town Life

Disclaimer

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

Swiss Garden Hidden Gem

Prize Crossword £25 could be yours!

The New Forest............................................................................ 4 Fun Quiz.......................................................................................13 Where Am I?................................................................................14 Sandy Tourist Information Centre..............................................16 Wordsearch................................................................................. 21 Big Garden Birdwatch................................................................ 24 Body Beautiful............................................................................ 26 Dealing with Stress.................................................................... 28 New Year, New You.....................................................................31 Get Ready to get Fit in 2013....................................................... 33 New Year, New Hobby............................................................... 34 Milton Keynes Marathon........................................................... 36 Recovering from a Financial Hangover..................................... 39 Taxing Times...............................................................................40 Five Best Diet Changes............................................................... 42 Sale Savvy................................................................................... 45 Garden View............................................................................... 47 Warm Up For Winter.................................................................. 50 Rural Ramblings......................................................................... 53 Keep Warm this Winter.............................................................. 55 Animal Know How...................................................................... 56 Children’s Page............................................................................61 Cape Town.................................................................................. 62 Cat’s Out the Bag....................................................................... 65 New Years Resolution................................................................66 Seasonal Delights........................................................................72 What’s On................................................................................... 74 Puzzle Page................................................................................80 Plastic Fantastic.......................................................................... 82 You Can’t Do That......................................................................84 The Better Life............................................................................88 A Canine Conundrum................................................................. 92

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The New Forest

By MELANIE HULSE

The New Forest has always been one of those places that everybody else raves about. Having managed to avoid the place on perverse principal thus far, I finally conceded defeat and agreed to a weekend’s camping trip last September. After all, given the route, the forest lies within easy reach of Bedfordshire, there are ponies (always exciting), plenty of quiet, off-road cycling, a beautiful coastline and cows that are allowed to amble at will – what could be more appealing? Having to pitch our tent in after dark only to discover the fact that we had chosen to put it in the middle of the pony’s favorite bathroom stop and that the car was so lodged in the resulting midden that we had no choice but to curl up in the cold without going out for the delicious meal I’d been promised, did nothing to endear me to the place. We had chosen the last permissible weekend of the year for camping in the forest and the site was far from quiet - only the issue was not people but deer! All our fellow happy campers were cosied up well before the 11pm curfew but I don’t think the animal residents had read the rules. It was that time of year when testosterone levels go through the roof and the male population of

red deer feel compelled to clash horns repeatedly and with boyish enthusiasm and all night. They obviously favoured the midden too, as our tent was definitely the centre of the trouble, either that or some canny youngster had set up his betting shop within a spit of our zips and was marshalling the next hot studs into line for the how-loudly-can-you-yell competition. Sleep? Well, we didn’t want any of that anyway… The next morning dawned sickeningly bright so I dragged my aching bones to the nearest washhouse before setting off into the forest to seek a heartening breakfast. How wonderful it was, even in my bleary-eyed and definitively grumpy state, to sail off on the broad, smooth footpaths with not a thought of cars - even our own. In no time my sleepless night was left far behind and we were tucking into a traditional breakfast in a Brockenhurst café, whilst planning a day in the wilds. Apart from cycling there are plenty of other activities available in the New Forest. With information available from the tourist information centre or local information points it would be possible to stay for weeks and still have a list of pastimes left. Archery, canoeing, kayaking,

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mountain bikes adventure trails, walking and of course the inevitable horse riding to name but a few. Thankfully, our visit to the New Forest coincided with one of those particularly lovely autumn weekends when the sky is clearest blue and the sun shines high and bright right up until the spectacular, painted dusk. The whole forest lay before us and armed with maps and full bellies we set off towards Beaulieu in un-squashably high spirits. The wonderful thing about the forest is that it isn’t actually a forest – in the way I would define a forest anyway. There are broad areas of open scrub where graze rabbits, ponies and deer and the sun warms one’s shoulders and there is not another person in sight. There are small, woodland clearings where squirrels chuckle and woodpeckers laugh and the absence of man-made noise is complete enough to be breathtaking. There are rows and rows of Scots pine sheltering the brightest, thickest emerald moss and stands of ancient, stag-headed oak that tower like the kings of the forest and shelter the

sweetest, purest streams. The history of the New Forest is an interesting one. Despite it’s name the area was in fact designated as forest land by William the Conqueror. Prior to the Norman conquest the area had been called Ytene and was an infertile heath-land with heavily thicketed lowlands, large areas of bog. The population was sparse as the land was considered uncultivatable but the people that did live there probably foraged for meat and edible plants as well as eating the vegetable crops that they were able to grow in pockets of more fertile ground. Artifacts of pre-Norman times have been found and are principally Bronze-age and Romano-British. Bronze-age field enclosures indicate some cultivation of the ground and the keeping of livestock. The forest had about 200 barrows, or ancient burial mounds, 100 boiling mounds where water was heated using a system of fire and flints and the used flints were discarded and heaped up leaving a mound. A large number of pottery kilns have been excavated which date from the 3rd and 4th centuries. William, Duke of Normandy invaded England on 28th September 1066. He defeated Harold Gowinson, the king of England, at the Battle of Hastings and was crowned on Christmas day of the same year. In 1079 William ‘afforested’ the area of the New Forest, which means that he brought it under forest law in common with 21 other large areas of the country. In this context ‘a forest’ denotes an area subject to special laws designed to protect the hunting rights of the monarch and those assigned to this task by him. It does not mean a wooded area as we have come to assume and in fact the New Forest was about half woods, half heath even in William’s day. It was a place for the keeping of deer and certain

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other animals defined thus by Manwood in his Treatise of the Laws of the Forest: “A forest is a certain territory of woody grounds and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild beasts and fowls of the forest, chase, and warren, to rest and abide there in the safe protection of the King for his delight and pleasure.....” This designation brought the few inhabitants under strict laws that required them to preserve and protect game of all species, especially animals of the hunt – red deer, fallow deer, roe and wild pig, which together were referred to as ‘the venison’. Thus, the forest was made a kingdom within a kingdom which had laws that ran in parallel with Common Law. There was distinct legal system with its own courts and officers whose sole aim was to protect the venison and vert (the green food the venison fed on) for the king’s pleasure although it is likely that he rarely hunted there but employed professionals to do so in his stead. Royal edicts could be and were issued by the Crown with no appeal or redress. William justified the severity of this system by producing a document – the Charter of Cnut (now discredited) which apparently declared that the exclusive rights of the chase were vested in the king. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle explains the situation in this way: “....set many deer free, and laid a law upon it, that whoever slew hart or hind should be blinded. As he forbade the killing of harts he forbade the killing of boars, and he loved the stags as if he were their father. He decreed also that hares must go free. The rich complained, the poor lamented; but he was so hard he set their hate at naught...” In fact, no sovereigns before William including Cnut had claimed royal prerogative for hunting the woods of their subjects. Trespassers and poachers of the kings own woods had been

punished by common law, not a Forest Law which was a Norman institution brought over from the continent. In the eyes of the English it was unprecedented tyranny. Imagine the effects of Forest law upon the local population, however sparse. They were no longer allowed to enclose land in any way nor ‘interfere’ with the vert by grazing their own livestock. They could not gather fuel for fires as the underwood was considered the property of the king. Some were even evicted from their homes while others moved of their own accord in order to cultivate land outside the afforested area. In an attempt to compensate for the harsh restrictions that afforestation imposed, the common inhabitants were allowed to turn their livestock onto the unwanted or waste-land of the forest if they made claims for Common Rights at the forest court. This too was restricted, during the winter months to protect the whole place for the foraging needs of the king’s deer and in the month when the fawns were born resulting in the actual grazing rights on the common land stretching to only about five months of the year. These harsh laws were only made more severe during the reign of William Rufus or William II. He made death and mutilation the punishments for interfering with the king’s deer. Killing a deer was punishable by death, those who shot a deer had their hands cut off and blinding was the penalty for mere disturbance of the herd. After Rufus died after being shot (most probably murderously) with an arrow in the Forest, Henry I was made king. He promised to modify the severity of the Forest Law but in reality maintained it, although he did grant rights of warren to those under Forest Law which enabled them to hunt fox, badger, rabbit, cat, hare, wolf and squirrel. The next few hundred years saw the borders of

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the forest moved numerous times, the decline of the forest and then the enclosure of large areas used to grow timber which was of great value to the Navy for ship building. During 1851 Queen Victoria sanctioned the Deer Removal Act. Deer were by this time considered a threat to plantations. The cost of keeping the deer and compensating local private estates for the damage they caused was high. The act required the destruction of the deer (the fallow deer alone were estimated at 4,000 head). This was the first formal acknowledgement that the crown were no longer interested in the deer. Victoria also approved the “Commoners Charter” which enabled commonable stock to be grazed all year round on the common land and appointed a Court of Verderers to protect the rights of the Commoners. Many measures were taken to contain the animals which roamed freely around the forest and regulate the breeding of the New Forest ponies to ensure they remained healthy and a recognized pure breed. 1903 saw the first death of a commonable animal in a road traffic accident and in 1963 the most recent grid mapping and fencing of the perambulation of the forest was begun. Some of the busier roads were fenced too and car parks and camping sites were organized. In 1971 the Wild Creatures and Forest Laws Act abolished prerogative rights of the crown to

wild creatures (except swans and royal fish) and so prevented the Forest Keepers claiming rights to the land by firing a single shot on each encroachment once a year. In 1997 an initiative called “Life” financed a four year programme to restore the ancient woodlands and in 2005 the forest was designated as a National Park ensuring the protection of this beautiful place. Our glorious weekend was full of adventures cycling – dodging crazy cows in Beaulieu, a reckless ride along the estuary bank to Buckler’s Hard for delicious picnic lunch on the slopes overlooking the waters and then the return to the camp site across purple heathland dotted with groups of pretty ponies. Our cycling legs more than worked-out we spent Sunday on the beach at Milford, gazing over the Solent at The Needles off the coast of the Isle of Wight. The pebbles sloped gently down to the softly rolling waves and the attractive streets of nearby Lymington provided a much needed fish and chip supper. My only regret is that we didn’t have longer than a weekend. Since our return I have regaled our children with enthusiastic stories of our escapades and now we are all longing for the return of summer so that we can throw the tent in the car, load up the bikes and take on the forest once more.

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New Banquet Menu at

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Monday - Saturday 12 noon – 2pm Lunch 5.30pm – 11pm Evenings Special Sunday Lunch From 12.30pm – 10pm Adult Meal £9.95 Childs Meal £4.95 Wednesday Banquet Menu - £9.95 Choose 1 item from each section STARTER Shami Kebab Sheek Kebab Chicken Tikka Tandoori Chicken Chicken Chatt Chicken Pakora Vegetable Samosa Vegetable Pakora HoneyMushroom Garlic Mushroom Onion Bhajee

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A NEW NAME IN QUALITY HIFI FOR THE HOME Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest HiFi Lounge news

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Fun Quiz - Review of 2012 1. In January 2012, a cruise ship called the Costa Concordia partially sank after hitting a rock off the coast of which country? 2. Of all the national football teams taking part in Euro 2012, which one was making their European Championship debut? 3. Whose knighthood, awarded in 2004 for services to banking, was annulled in February 2012? 4. Which famous person gave birth to a baby girl, called Blue Ivy Carter, in January 2012? 5. The 2012 Summer Olympics became the first at which every sport included female competitors due to women competing for the first time in events in which sport? 6. What nationality is Felix Baumgartner, who, in October 2012, became the first skydiver to travel faster than the speed of sound? 7. With the real first names of John Thomas, which famous sportsman died in March 2012? 8. What was the name of the dog that danced to victory with Ashleigh in the 2012 series of Britain’s Got Talent? 9. In June 2012, which novel by E.L. James became the fastest adult paperback novel ever to sell one million print copies? 10. What was the title of the song written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee?

Before

After

1. Italy 2. Ukraine 3. Fred Goodwin’s 4. Beyonce 5. Boxing 6. Austrian 7. Jocky Wilson 8. Pudsey 9. Fifty Shades Of Grey 10. Sing

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WHERE ARE WE?

WHERE AM I? DO YOU KNOW?

These pictures are all taken at public houses in our distribution area. Do you know where they are?

2 3

The Villager and Town Life magazine is delivered door to door throughout:

Abbotsley Beeston Broom Caxton Cockayne Hatley Cople Croydon Dunton Eltisley Everton Everton Heath Eyeworth Gamlingay Haynes Henlow Ickwell Green Ireland Langford Lower Caldecote Moggerhanger Northill Old Warden Potton Shuttleworth Southill Stanford Sutton The Gransden’s Thorncote Green Upper Caldecote Waresley Wrestlingworth

VILLAGER The

LOCAL NEWS •

LOCAL PEOPLE

• LOCAL SERVICE

Issue 86 - Decem

and Town

S • LOCAL CHARITI

ber 2012

Life

ES • LOCAL PRODUC

Bringing Loca l Business to in Bigglesw local People ade, Sandy, Potton, Gam and all surro lingay unding villag es. 11,000 copie s delivered to over 30 and villages towns every mon th

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VILLAGER The

Issue 85 - Novem

ber 2012

and Town Life

£25

Prize Crossword See Inside

Bringing Loca l Business to in Bigglesw local People ade, Sandy, Potton, Gam and all surro lingay unding villag es. 11,000 copie s delivered to over 30 and villages towns every mon th

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VILLAGER The

Issue 84 - Octob

er 2012

and Town Life

£25

Prize Crossword See Inside

Bringing Loca l Business to in Bigglesw local People ade, Sandy, Potton, Gam and all surro lingay unding villag es. 11,000 copie s delivered to over 30 and villages towns every mon th

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VILLAGER The

Issue 83 - Septe

mber 2012

and Town Life

£25

Prize Crossword See Inside

Bringing Loca l Business to in Bigglesw local People ade, Sandy, Potton, Gam and all surro lingay unding villag es. 11,000 copie s delivered to over 30 and villages towns every mon th

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and can be found in most shops, pubs, garages in all of the above and more including Biggleswade and Sandy.

Last month’s pictures were taken at Stratford Near Sandy

Booking your advertising space is easy just call Nigel on 01767 261122 or e-mail nigel@villagermag.com

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SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE

JANUARY

Winter is a time for cold, often wet and sometimes even snowy days and nights. On these dark days why not peruse the vast range of holiday brochures and attraction leaflets which we stock for every part of the United Kingdom and plan a spring, summer or autumn break, a weekend away or a day out. Brochures 2013 - At your Tourist Information Centre in Sandy we are now beginning to receive new brochures for 2013. The brochures we hold here in Sandy TIC cover the whole country - all points north including the majestic mountains and glens of Scotland, to the moors, hills and coasts of Yorkshire and the great cities of Liverpool and York. Or one head westwards to the Principality of Wales with its wonderful scenery, coasts and ancient castles. Or visit the western counties of England and see the Georgian city of Bath or the dramatic coasts of Devon and Cornwall, or head south with the seaside towns of Hastings and Bournemouth and the cathedral cities of Winchester and Canterbury. In the centre of England see the warmth of the golden stone villages of the Cotswolds and tour historic ‘Shakespeare Country ‘. Soak up the peace of Eastern England with the small towns and villages of Suffolk. Relax and enjoy the bird watching paradises of Holkham or Cley, see the seals on a boat trip to Blakeney Point or enjoy some the wide open beaches on the coast of North Norfolk. Or visit the eastern coast of Norfolk and

enjoy the pleasures of the great holiday resort of Great Yarmouth. Enjoy a winter Walk - Sandy and its countryside is the ideal place to walk. Last year Sandy was accredited Walkers are Welcome status and was the first town in Bedfordshire and second in the East Anglia region to achieve this. Sandy is proud to lead the way locally in joining and promoting this important community led scheme which incorporates 90 towns in Great Britain. The winter is a wonderful time both physically and mentally to get out into the countryside and have a good walk to blow the cobwebs away. The Tourist Information Centre has a large range of walking leaflets available - including around the delightful nearby villages of Everton, Old Warden, Tempsford, Potton, Sutton, Blunham, Moggerhanger, etc. We also have leaflets of walks in the stone villages of north Bedfordshire and the estate villages of Woburn and the southern part of the county. Here are a few suggested walks to do in Sandy’s delightful countryside this winter :‘The Greensand Ridge Walk’ (GSR) is Bedfordshire’s premier long distance Walk and its route spans the county for a total of 40 miles following the line of the ridge starting in Leighton Buzzard and ending in Gamlingay. The Walk is divided into five sections (for this particular area, section 4 goes from Haynes to Sandy and Section 5 goes from Sandy to Everton, Tetworth and Gamlingay.) The GSR Walk is an ideal introduction to the history, landscape and wildlife of this part of the county. The Greensand ridge leaflet has recently been updated and reprinted. ‘The Kingfisher Way’ As well as rich agricultural lands and heath and woodlands, Sandy and the area enjoys the delights of a number of riverside walks with water meadows grazed by cattle and sheep. The Kingfisher Way leaflet is divided into three sections showing the routes from Baldock to Tempsford – section 3 is the section from Biggleswade to Tempsford which goes through Sandy and Blunham. It has been designed to make use of the Ivel Valley’s railway stations allowing the route to be tackled as a whole or in stages. In the section from Biggleswade to Tempsford it provides a perfect introduction to the countryside and wildlife of the Ivel valley and

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passes several nature reserves with opportunities to see wildflowers, birds and insects native to the area. ‘The Captain Peel Walk’ In 2008 the Tourist Information Centre published this historical walk to commemorate the150th anniversary of the death of Sandy naval hero, Captain Sir William Peel, one of the first recipients of the Victoria Cross and who died during the Indian mutiny in 1858, aged 33. The illustrated leaflet includes not only a biography about Peel but details this Walk and gives information about the various sites and buildings to look out for. The route starts at Sandy Parish Church (to view Peel’s statue) and finishes at the RSPB’s Gatehouse– the former home of Captain Peel. ‘The Jubilee Walk’ In 2012 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen wel published the Jubilee Walk leaflet, which contains six brand new Walks around Sandy and its countryside. There is one Walk for each decade of the Queen’s reign. It includes a town walk, a pushchair Walk, a cycle ride and walks over the greensand hills, fields, woodlands and heathlands together with delightful walks along the banks of the River Ivel, the rich water meadows, and man-

made lakes. Call into the Centre and see the large range of brochures , leaflets and information that we hold. May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year SANDY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE is at the rear of the offices of Sandy Town Council at 10 Cambridge Road. Access to the Centre is either (a) via the Town Car Park in the High Street – we are in the left hand far corner or (b) from Cambridge Road – via the path at the side of the Town Council Offices. One of our many visitors called the Centre ‘an Aladdin’s cave’ – come and see for yourself – call into Sandy Tourist Information Centre, Rear of 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy Telephone 01767 682728 – email tourism@ sandytowncouncil.gov.uk We are open Monday to Friday 10am – 3pm Saturday 10am-2pm Closed Sundays and Bank holidays

SAFFORD’S COACHES 2013 HOLIDAY BROCHURE OUT NOW

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WINTER WARMER IN CARDIGAN – WALES BARGAIN BREAK TO WEYMOUTH LONDON THEATRE & SHOPPING BREAK EASTER IN BOURNEMOUTH SPRINGTIME ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT WESTON-SUPER-MARE 80 YEARS REUNION – EASTBOURNE AMSTERDAM & KEUKENHOF GARDENS LONG WEEKEND IN LIVERPOOL

PLEASE RING FOR YOUR FREE COLOUR BROCHURE

27-31 MAY A PEAK DISTRICT ADVENTURE 14-17 JUNE ELEGANT EASTBOURNE 20-24 JUNE SUMMERTIME IN TENBY 26-28 JULY TATTON PARK FLOWER SHOW 2-5 AUGUST ANCHORS AWEIGH – SCARBOROUGH 13-15 AUGUST EDINBURGH TATTOO 23-26 AUGUST MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL 26-30 AUGUST NEWQUAY & GARDENS OF CORNWALL 30 AUG-2 SEPT. MYSTICAL WILTSHIRE INC. ‘DOWNTON ABBEY’ 9-13 SEPTEMBER BELFAST & THE ANTRIM COAST PLUS MANY MORE DESTINATIONS

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Julian Biggs Chimney Advert:Layout 1 07/12/2012 15:3

Chimney Sweep Member of the Institute of Chimney Sweeps

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Tel: 01767 627591 07950 705479 located in Northill, Beds

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Potton & District Club 2013 subs are now due, members & new members early bird promotion, limited time only.

January Sat 5th Jan - KHOROSHA, local band are back, great musicians Sat 12th - Sledgehammer, 5piece band, very talented Sat 19th Jan - Brisque new to the club, piano & vocal Sat 26th Jan - The SOULMAN, popular Soul & Motown solo artist FEBRUARY Sat 2nd Feb - Our popular DISCO INFERNO, your party, your requests. Fri 8th Feb - JAM/OPEN MIC NIght is back, come and join in! Sat 9th Feb - DECADE, live band, loving 80s covers. Also Tacky TIgers, Johnny Red, SKa Band, 2Tone, & much more, check our web page

This information is supplied to you in good faith. Please check with the venue, before setting out, as details may change at short notice. Check the web page for entertainment/club news.... Google: Potton & District Club.

Check out www.lemonrock.com/pottondistrictclub for more details Bar open Mon-Tues 7.30pm to 11.00pm Weds-Thur 6.00pm to 11.00pm Fri 5.00pm to 12.00am, Sat 12.00pm to 12.00am Sun 12.00pm to 10.30pm

Potton CIU Club, Charities Hall, Station Road, Potton Tel: 01767 261465 (Evenings) Website: www.pottonclub.co.uk 18

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Wedding Plans

By Sue Brookes

Many say their wedding was the best day of their lives! For others, the stress of planning the event turned the whole thing into a nightmare. So, whether your dream wedding is big and grand, or small and simple, here are some tips to help you have your perfect wedding day. Some couples will pick their wedding date first, whilst others will choose their venue. If you have a strong preference for a particular date, then do try and book at least 12 months in advance as the most popular venues soon become booked for prime dates. Whilst a Saturday Summer wedding remains the most popular choice, some couples are increasingly taking advantage of discounted off peak and last minute wedding packages. To become legally married, you can choose a religious service, a civil ceremony, or get married abroad. Churches may require you to attend regularly, be baptised and /or live in the parish, so check this in plenty of time to avoid disappointment. Whilst many feel a civil ceremony can be more personal with a greater opportunity to choose vows, readings and music which suits the individuals, all weddings have strict legal requirements. Your eligibility to marry will be checked, and your service must fulfil established criteria. If you wish to marry abroad, you must meet your destinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding requirements

as well as UK law. You will usually require a ring or rings as part of the ceremony. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve arranged your wedding ceremony, you can think about your celebrations. As well as thinking about how you will get to your wedding, if your day includes several venues, you will need to provide your guests with directions or could choose to provide transport for them during the event. You will also need to decide where you want your photographs taken at a multi-venue wedding. Most newlyweds provide their guests with food and drink. Catering can be a large part of the wedding budget, so you should make sure you know whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s included in any packages offered. The timing of a wedding can be important in determining how many meals you will need to provide for guests. Lots of couples choose a theme for their wedding. This may be a colour based theme, or a genre such as Victorian or Hollywood. This theme can be facilitated through the clothing, flowers, invitations and table settings that are chosen. The wedding cake is a traditional part of many weddings. Increasingly modern designs and cakes with various flavourings are featured instead of tiered iced fruit cakes. The cake offers a further opportunity for the bride and groom to stamp their personality on proceedings, and some also choose to use the cake as a dessert for

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The Royal Oak

Potton

Join Colin, Jo and the team for a warm welcome at Potton’s oldest pub

Freshly prepared food Lunch served Tuesday to Saturday between 12noon - 2:30pm Dinner served Tuesday to Saturday between 6:30pm - 9:00pm Traditional Sunday Lunch served 12noon - 3pm Senior Citizen’s Menu Available Tuesday to Friday

4 Biggleswade Road, Potton, Bedfordshire Tel: 01767 261888 www.royaloakpotton.co.uk 20

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their guests to save on costs. Make sure your venue has the capacity to deal with all your guests, check the access arrangements for less mobile attendees, and if you have guests who want to stay overnight , ensure the venue has bedrooms or that there are hotels close by. If you want to celebrate until the early hours, check the venue’s licensing hours, and as some venues do not allow fireworks if they are high on your wish list, remember to ask about this before parting with a deposit. Many couples choose to have singers, musicians or entertainers as part of their wedding day. There may be a choir or other performers during the ceremony, an opportunity for music in the background at the Reception and to accompany evening dancing. Or you may choose to provide acts such as waiters who become opera singers, children’s’ entertainers, magicians, or a live band. Of course, no wedding would be complete without the outfits. Many wedding dresses can take several months to arrive at UK shops, so be sure to order in plenty of time. You may also

be surprised, and disappointed to find, that the dream dress you chose from a magazine or in a shop window does not suit you, so allow sufficient time to try on enough dresses to be sure you’ve found the perfect one. Think about your size, height and perhaps the theme of your wedding to determine whether an A line dress, Empire, Sheath, strapless, long or short dress will be the one for you. Do remember that you might require help to get into your dress on the day, particularly if it has a lace up back or small buttons. Set yourself a realistic budget, and remember that you need to pay for accessories too. Once the bride’s dress is chosen you can focus on the bridesmaids, other attendants and the bridegroom. Usually the style and formality of these will follow the brides outfit. Many of the guests, including the Mother of the Bride, will also want to take care to ensure they have the perfect clothing and accessories, so do encourage them to shop well ahead - and if there is a theme let them know, so that they can enjoy feeling a special part of your wonderful wedding day. Congratulations and enjoy planning your wedding!

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Little Venice

QUAINT, AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT

A quaint, authentic and friendly restaurant, these were my first thoughts when I visited Little Venice recently. With its clean lines and simplistic approach to décor, I felt very comfortable with my surroundings, the restaurant felt warm and inviting and the welcome I received from the staff was one of genuine sincerity. Casting my eye over the menu I am ambivalent as what to choose, everything looks delightful, and from what I can see on my fellow diner’s plates, looks so well presented it would be a shame to actually destroy such a masterpiece. Italian chef Alexandro prides himself on the quality of the food he turns out, and this is evident through his stunning presentation and unique flavours. Quite clearly every meal is designed with passion and love. As the evening goes on, I can’t help but comment

on how attentive the service is, not to full on, but enough to feel like whatever you ask for is not a problem. Service with a smile is hard to come by these days but not at Little Venice. I notice on the wall there is a certificate awarded by the food standards agency giving Little Venice 5 stars for their food & hygiene, another comforting thought which I mull over whilst sipping a fantastic glass of Red. Before my evening is over I have already decided I shall be returning, and next time I think I may come and dine on a Thursday, as every week Little Venice provide live music to accompany an already fantastic night. All in all Little Venice has it all, sublime authentic Italian food with a choice of dishes that even the most discerning pallet would love, a great atmosphere with wonderful staff and best of all, satisfied customers that return again and again.

Booking is recommended, especially at weekends to avoid disappointment. For further information or to book a table please call 01954 715 315 St Neots Road, Caxton Gibbert, Cambridge, CB23 3PD. (A428 next to Shell Garage) Email: info@lvrest.co.uk Website: www.lvrest.co.uk 22

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KNEBWORTH PARK SG1 2AX THE EAST OF ENGLAND'S ONE STOP WEDDING SHOW

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th January 2013 10am - 5pm

ÂŁ3.00 per ticket online at www.weddinglink.co.uk/bride Fashion catwalk Demonstrations Skills Boutique Mother of the bride tips Free BRIDE Magazine

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Big Garden Birdwatch

By Sarah Davey

Take part on January 26th-27th Did you know that British gardens occupy twice the area set aside for nature reserves? This means they play a vital role in wildlife conservation. How you can help Put up nest boxes and roosting pockets These provide places for birds to breed and sleep. Set up feeding stations High energy foods like stale cake, biscuits, pastry, pasta and potato are enjoyed by many birds. Raisins and other dried fruit are welcomed by Blackbirds and Thrushes. Most garden centres stock a variety of proprietary bird seed and nuts which appeal across the species but don’t forget to scatter some under hedges for shy birds like Dunnocks and Wrens who prefer to feed on the ground. Make sure fresh water is available It’s important for drinking and bathing. Once you’ve created a welcoming environment it’s time to sit back and take part in The Big Garden Birdwatch run by the RSPB (Royal Society

for the Protection of Birds). Simply spend an hour recording how many birds and which species visit your garden on either the 26th or 27th of January and submit your results online at the address below. Not only will the results will be analysed and published on the site but you’ll get the warm glow that comes from knowing you’ve done your bit for bird conservation. Visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

Friendly, family run guest house in the heart of Biggleswade. Ideal for the business or leisure traveller. All rooms ensuite and free wifi. Stratton Guest House 4a London Road, Biggleswade Beds SG18 8EB Tel: 01767 600920 www.strattonguesthouse.com 24

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NOW OPEN The Bargain Box 34 Church Street, Gamlingay www.bargain-box.co.uk

Good quality, second hand goods across a wide range of stock - from unwanted gifts to antique fine china, and lots more in between.

Current stock includes: • curtains from Sanderson, Crowhurst and others • small furniture items some in ‘shabby chic’ style • fireside collections of log baskets and companion sets • whimsical prints and limited editions of popular artists • costume jewellery, including ‘Pandora’ • Collectibles

The Bargain Box 34 Church Street Gamlingay www.bargain-box.co.uk Opening hours Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Or at other times by appointment Tel: Email:

07802 601301 info@bargain-box.co.uk

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Body Beautiful

Treat your body to some TLC this winter When it comes to skincare most of us are pretty good at looking after our face. We’re used to cleansing, toning and moisturising as part of our daily routine and every year we spend a small fortune on trying products that claim to make us look more beautiful, youthful and radiant. We think nothing of this, but what about our body? Many of us completely neglect the rest of our skin, especially in the wintertime. It’s easy to become lazy when you’re covered up under layers of clothing, but we all want super-soft skin. If you’re honest you probably won’t have thoroughly scrubbed, buffed and polished your body since the summer months just before applying your fake tan. There’s no doubt that your skin will be looking dull and lackluster as a result. You’ll be pleased to hear then, that there are some quick, easy and simple steps that will have you ready to bare all in no time. All you have to do is promise to follow them once or twice a week. The reward? Fabulous skin all over. The Benefits of Brushing There’s been a lot of hype about body brushing. It has been shown to have great results on reducing the appearance of cellulite, toning the skin and guaranteeing a youthful glow. Using a dry natural bristle body brush, work from your feet upwards in long, firm, sweeping strokes. Be careful not to press too hard - the idea is to invigorate the skin, not irritate it. This action has been proven to boost circulation and lift skin-dulling impurities from the pores in one easy action. Be Brave - Boost Your Circulation Although this isn’t the most appealing step, it definitely does the job. When you’re in the shower, alternate between blasts of warm and cold water for about 30 seconds. You only need to do it a couple of times to encourage blood that’s rich with fresh nutrients and oxygen to travel to the surface of your skin, leaving it looking healthy and glowing. Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate Exfoliators have great results when used on both face and body. The tiny grains lift and remove impurities and dead skin cells from the skin, leaving it looking instantly brighter. It’s best to use an exfoliator that has fine

particles, rather than coarser varieties, because they are less abrasive on the skin. Use a circular motion to apply the product to damp skin and work from your feet upwards, spending time massaging every bit of your skin. Rinse thoroughly, and move on to the next stage. Gently Does It Whether you consider your skin to be sensitive or not, it’s always best to choose a shower gel that’s designed for sensitive skin and one which has natural ingredients. The harsh chemicals that can be found in some products strip the skin of essential moisture and leave it feeling dry and irritated. Don’t be tempted to have the water too hot when you’re in the shower, as it dehydrates the skin - instead turn down the heat to pleasantly warm. Lock-In Moisture It’s essential to moisturise your body every time you shower. Leave your skin damp and massage a generous amount of product into the skin - this helps to lock-in moisture for long-lasting hydration. Again, try to use moisturisers that have been designed for sensitive skin and which are free from harsh ingredients. Try to avoid perfumed products. They smell great, but can contain strong chemicals which have a drying effect on delicate areas of skin.

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Dealing with stress

How can you best cope with stress? Stress is the term used to describe our physical, mental and emotional reactions to what is happening in our lives. It is a perfectly natural reaction and was a vital response for our forebearers when faced with a fight or flight situation. Stress - when handled in the right way - can be good for us: it enables us to take on challenges, face fears and step outside our comfort zone. We also actively seek out that adrenaline rush when doing extreme sports, playing video games or watching horror movies. But too much stress on a daily basis may lead to you finding it hard to cope like half a million people in the UK every year who report experiencing work-related stress. This is when stress becomes a part of your life and you find yourself having to deal with physical, mental or emotional pressures every day with no respite. Signs of stress - When you are stressed your muscles contract and prepare for action. Your heart rate speeds up and your blood pressure rises. Your body will react in one or more different ways, such as: breathlessness, feeling sick, headaches, constant tiredness, sweating, constipation or diarrhoea, muscle spasm, heartburn, lack of appetite and sexual difficulties. As a result, you may find it difficult to concentrate or to make decisions. You may start to avoid difficult situations or avoid talking to people about what’s going on and may find yourself crying frequently and feeling depressed. If not dealt with, stress can contribute to serious health problems such as ulcers, heart attacks and

strokes. Learning to relax - You may not always be able to remove the elements of your life which are causing you stress, but there are things you can do to help you deal with it. Giving yourself some quiet time to relax can really help. Use the time to read or listen to music or try a relaxation technique for 20 minutes: close your eyes, breathing slowly and deeply. Think about which muscles are tense and try to relax them, imagining the tension just easing away. Focus on each part of your body in turn, starting with your feet and moving up through your body to the top of your head. You could also try a yoga or relaxation class to help relieve stress or go for regular walks at lunchtime. Tackling stress - It may sound simple, but have you actually looked at exactly what is causing you stress and how you may be able to change the situation? If a person at work is causing you problems, can you discuss it with them or someone else? If you have too much work, can you find some help or ask a colleague to share the load? If you’ve said ‘yes’ to too many things, are there some you can say ‘no’ to? However much pressure you are under, try to take regular breaks to remove yourself from the cycle. Try to be well-organised - many situations look better when you know exactly what it is you have to deal with, rather than worrying about it. Find as much help as you can - whether it’s in the home or at work, so that you are sharing the load - and talk to friends, family or colleagues so you don’t feel that you are coping alone.

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Hair by Amanda Sole Practice Reflexology Clinic (Established 2002)

Professional, Affordable, Reliable Mobile Hairdresser

Beautiful hair by city and guilds qualified stylist Cut & Blowdry, Colours, Highlights, Lowlights, Permanent Wave, Sets, Conditioning Treatments, All Hairdressing Services Special Senior Citizen Discounts Mob: 07974 281933 Tel: 01767 262143

REFLEXOLOGY/VERTICAL REFLEXOLOGY REIKI HEAD & SHOULDER MASSAGE Holistic therapies to improve many conditions and bring a sense of relaxation and well-being Treatments can be combined as required 10 years of professional accredited advanced training and experience Gift vouchers available CARLA ROBINSON MAR. VRT. REIKI Tel: 01767-651634/0777-201-2928 (Gamlingay area )

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New Year, New You

By Claudia Leaf

It’s January, and having eaten and drunk your way through the contents of at least three shopping trolleys during the festive season, you are feeling in need of a quick fix so you can begin to feel healthy again. The time of the year doesn’t help. Spring is still a couple of months away and although you’d love to go for a bracing walk in the park, you know that after half an hour in muddy boots, being soaked by persistent rain, you’ll give up and go home. But what’s the alternative when you need a regular exercise regime to help you lose weight? Working out at home with the help of a video console has become a popular alternative to going out to a dance class or a gym. The great advantage is that it allows you to design a programme to suit your own needs and preferences. However if - like me - you’re not a great self-motivator, you may find it hard to keep going without a human instructor to give encouragement. So how do you find a movement class that will suit you? A quick browse round the websites of local clubs is likely to reveal a baffling array of exercise styles with exotic-sounding names such as Zumba, Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga, Spinning and Tai Chi. It’s nice to be spoiled for choice, but there are a few things to consider before you start shopping for the lycra bodysuit and matching accessories. How old are you? Do you have any medical conditions? How much exercise do you normally take? If a leisurely stroll around the supermarket is your main form of exercise then a cardiovascular workout is probably not the place to start. You need to build your programme slowly, so it may benefit you to start with a beginners’ yoga class where you will be concentrating on breathing and stretching rather than trying to push yourself beyond your limits. Don’t make the common mistake of assuming that yoga is just about bending your torso into strange positions whilst inhaling incense and chanting. Real yoga is definitely not for the faint-hearted and its emphasis on slow movements, posture and deep breathing really helps to build muscular strength and improve balance. If you are new to exercise classes you will be glad to know that yoga is about doing as much as you feel your own body can manage. There are a variety of different kinds of yoga, some of which are really quite challenging for a beginner, so do have a chat with the instructor before booking your course to make sure that you have chosen the right type for you. Pilates borrows heavily from Yoga and was originally

devised to help injured dancers and athletes. Once again there is an emphasis on good posture and exercises are designed to strengthen the spine, improve circulation and open up the joints. A fitness programme that is currently enjoying huge success in this country is Zumba. Invented by Columbian choreographer Alberto Perez in the 1990s, Zumba combines exercise with dance. Unlike conventional dance classes where the instructor faces the class and teaches a series of steps, Zumba is a continuous series of free-flowing moves – the instructor stands with his or her back to the class, demonstrating actions for the students to follow. With its slogan “Ditch the workout – join the party”, it offers a great way to enjoy exercise without feeling that you are being observed and judged by the instructor. If you enjoy dancing to music then this is probably a good choice, but do think twice if your movement is restricted or if you suffer from high blood pressure. However you decide to pursue your new exercise regime, make a promise to yourself to keep it up. You won’t really start feeling the benefit until you’ve settled in to your new classes and begun to master those new moves. After a few weeks you’ll be surprised to find how much better you feel. It may take a few attempts before you find a class that suits you, but it will be worth it in the end. Make sure the New Year really does mean a new you.

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Bedfordshire Foot Clinic Podiatry/Chiropody Yvonne Siudak BSc (Hons.) MChS, HPC Registered

Podiatrist / Chiropodist Private Podiatry / Chiropody Care in Sandy, Bedfordshire, UK

A comprehensive service for all your foot care needs

Hard Skin • Corns • Nail Cutting Ingrown Toe Nails • Fungal Nail Infections General Foot Care • Verrucae Treatment • Diabetic Assessments • Biomechanical Assessments Full details of our specialist treatments are available, call Yvonne for an appointment:

Bedfordshire Foot Clinic

17 Georgetown Cottages, Tempsford Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2AE T: 01767 681704 M: 07562 748352 E: yvonne@thebedfordshirefootclinic.co.uk

www.yourfootclinic.co.uk

Also Cambridge Foot Clinic Tel: 01223 358431

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Get ready to get fit in 2013!

By Liz Burfield

If you’ve resolved to get fit in the New Year but aren’t sure where to start, try these tips for a healthier 2013. Commit to your goals The first step is to define your aims: what do you want to do and why? Be realistic, and don’t try to tackle too many things at once. Make sure your goals are specific and measurable (e.g. “walking for 20 minutes three times per week”). Next, write these down and pin them up – this will help you commit to your plan. Being active is vital to your wellbeing so try and think of it like brushing your teeth – something you do whether you feel like it that day or not. This also means scheduling exercise in your diary, and blocking out that time as you would for other essential commitments. Start small and increase gradually There’s no need to force yourself to go out and do something really tough – chances are you’ll find it unpleasant and lose the motivation to continue. Start with short amounts of time at a low intensity and slowly build from there – this will boost your sense of achievement and reduce the risk of injury. If you’re new to exercise, aim for a moderate effort level: this means working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat – you should be able to talk, but not to sing! When choosing what to do, pick something you enjoy! You don’t have to head to the gym: activities like walking, gardening and dancing can be great exercise too. Putting on your favourite tunes or bringing along a friend can also add fun to your workout. Top up your motivation Because motivation can wane over time, put strategies in place to deal with this before it becomes an issue. One way to do this is to log all your workouts,

so you can look back and see how far you’ve come. Some people find it helpful to tell others about their goals, and agree to give regular progress reports. Plan regular (healthy) rewards too – the promise of a massage or new workout kit can provide a great incentive to stick with your goals! NB – becoming more active is safe for most people, but it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor before embarking on a new routine. This is particularly important if you have any health issues, or are unused to exercise. Liz Burfield offers mobile personal fitness training in Biggleswade and the surrounding area. You can contact her on 07779 724818, or visit www.getupandgofitness.co.uk

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New year, new hobby

BY Alex Brown

Eat healthily, start exercising, get more sleep… As you list your usual New Year resolutions, why not add in something fun for once? January is the perfect time to lift your spirits out of a winter slump by starting a new hobby, and there have never been so many activities to try. To narrow down your choice, think about what you’d like to add your life. Do you want to meet more people? Be more active? Learn a skill? Get creative? You may want to develop something that you are already interested in, or try something completely new. Look around to find out what’s going on. Your adult education centre and library will be able to help, and you’ll find information in cafés, newsagents, community centres and local magazines. If you were inspired by the 2012 Olympics, you could try a new sport or exercise class, but getting fit doesn’t have to mean sport. Why not follow the Strictly contestants and sample the benefits of ballroom dancing or Zumba, or simply aim to get out more and enjoy the countryside? Geocaching is an exciting new outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. It’s essentially

a high-tech treasure hunt. Another new trend is roller derby – a fast-paced contact sport where teams race to lap the opposition as they skate around the track. If you fancy using your mind more than your body, you could learn a new language in preparation for a foreign holiday perhaps. Or build on an existing interest by joining a photography class or book group. Music can reduce stress and improve your mood, so why not dust off that instrument you haven’t touched for years and join an amateur orchestra? Choirs are increasingly popular and you’re sure to find a range of musical styles available. Crafts have had a real boost lately, with knitting and sewing groups setting up all over the country. Jewellery and card-making are also satisfying. You can get started quite cheaply and pick up the basics quickly. The bonus is that you get to keep the end result, or give it as a gift. You also have the potential to earn money by selling your creations. Increased access to computers means that we can get involved in a whole host of new communities without even leaving the house. Many of us enjoy researching our family trees and finding the facts behind our memories. It’s also easy to use social networks to track down old school friends and colleagues that we’ve lost touch with. And if none of these is for you, how about foraging, meditation, wine-tasting, linedancing, magic tricks, bee-keeping, historical re-enactments, home baking…the list really is endless!

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Absolutely ... Positively ... NO pressure to sell! We give you FREE VALUATIONS .... YOU DECIDE !

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t: 01767 600 300 e: shop@cambridgecoins.co.uk

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The Milton Keynes Marathon

IS BACK!

HOT on the heels of its success this year, the 2013 Milton Keynes Marathon takes place on Monday 6 May and Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice is hoping that runners will take the challenge and support the charity. Unlike the London Marathon, the Milton Keynes race is truly a green event with the 26.2 mile course taking in over 4,500 aces of woodland, lakesides, parks and landscaped areas within the city boundary. All participants are guaranteed a ‘big marathon’ experience with lots of entertainment on route to help motivate them and attract spectators. Sue Ryder will be there on the day to support, cheer and meet all their runners at the end of the race in the charity village. Running a marathon is an amazing experience and achievement, and using the opportunity to raise money for charity makes it all the more worthwhile. Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice provides invaluable specialist medical and nursing

care for patients who are seriously ill, along with family support and chaplaincy. The hospice also provides lymphoedema and complementary therapy treatments in its recently refurbished day unit. It relies on donations from the public and sponsorship to keep its doors open. For those who cannot wait to take part in the Milton Keynes Marathon, there are still places available at the Brighton Marathon on 14 April 2013 and the London Marathon on 21 April 2013. For more information about taking part in the Milton Keynes, Brighton or London Marathon for Sue Ryder please contact Jessica Wilson, Regional Fundraiser at St John’s Hospice on 01767 642422, email: jessica.wilson@sueryder.org.

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More Than Printers Limited offer a huge range of promotional and gift products, suitable for both business and consumer use. Photo Panels

Clocks

Whether you are looking for a product, giveaway or gift to promote your business, MTP have the products to help get your message across and keep your company name firmly in your customers minds. We also supply a vast range of corporate wear from hi-vis clothing to general workwear, each of which can be personalised with your company logo. Likewise, if you are looking for a gift for someone special and want to go that little bit further than the usual high street offering, have a look at www.morethanprinters.co.uk for hundreds of ideas, whether it be t-shirts for stag or hen parties, t-shirts for kids parties, mugs, water bottles, photo frames, canvasses etc we have something for everyone.

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Ash Tree Financial Services A complete payroll & book keeping service

How do you feel about paperwork? • Are you fed up with piles of paperwork cluttering up your in tray?

• Does dealing with tax & HMRC fill you with dread? • Would you rather be getting on with running your business? • Do you wish you could hand all the paperwork over to someone else to sort out? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then why not consider letting End 2 End Payroll take control. T. M.

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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 goodwin@ashtree.uk.com www.ashtree.uk.com

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YOUR FIVE STEP GUIDE

TO RECOVERING FROM A FINANCIAL HANGOVER So again we find ourselves starting the New Year on the financial back foot, following overindulgence at Christmas. While this dilemma may seem inescapable, it is certainly not without remedy. Here’s how to begin your New Year with a proactive monetary success story rather than spending Q1 worried about cash flow. This is your five-step guide to recovering from a Christmas financial hangover. 1. Personal Preparation Start by deciding whether you’re going to use a paper notepad or software. Some people prefer pen and paper, but software for personal finance management or even just a spreadsheet will give you an efficient way to keep track of your funds using an intuitive interface. Next, you need to bolster your conviction to rectify the situation. If you’ve had good intentions in the past to tackle your finances but found yourself falling by the wayside, you’ll understand the importance of this step. A process touted by many world-renowned business coaches is to take a notepad and create two columns. On one side, put the positive things which will come from organising your money, and on the other list the downsides of what will happen and how failure will feel. This process can transform your intentions from whimsical fancy into serious conviction. 2. Assessing Your Situation Before addressing the problem at hand, you need to understand what the damage is. This means coming to terms with exactly how much you spent and involves delving into the nitty-gritty of your naughtiness, a psychologically repelling task that is tempting to avoid. If you haven’t had your credit card statement in yet, sit down with a notepad or a spreadsheet and tally up what you spent on Christmas presents. After this, do a rough calculation of what was spent on other factors such as food, drink and travel. You can always phone your card company and ask for the current balance if you’ve lost track. 3. Laying Down Your Targets Next, make a comprehensive list of every single essential outgoing for the month including an allowance for food. Once you know what this figure is, subtract it from your income and you will

know exactly how much is left to divide between your card bill/overdraft and other spending for the coming months. 4. Breaking Your Targets Down Breaking targets down into milestones is another strategy adopted by many renowned business coaches. Once you have your monthly budget, you can then break down your weekly, or even daily spending allowance. If you stick to these targets, you cannot fail and by the end of your plan, you will inevitably be free from your Christmas financial woes. Be as detailed as possible in your planning, accounting for any and all expenditures. 5. Other Steps to Take It’s common when struggling to get on top of finances to avoid contacting organisations to whom money is owed, such as credit card or utility bill companies. Ironically, communication can gain a great deal of leeway here. If necessary, phone up and inform them you’re unable to pay the bill this month but you can pay extra at the end of February. They will often be more than happy to accommodate, allowing you get on with your day-to-day life, conscience unburdened from money issues. If you continue to struggle to make ends meet, there are companies out there to help. Both CCCS (http://www.cccs.co.uk) and Payplan (http:// www.payplan.com/) are organisations set up to offer free advice and also debt management plans for those in need. Best of luck.

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Taxing Times

BY TED BRUNING Some self-employed people are really organised and keep all their receipts and invoices in a safe place and file them properly and do their books every month and, when it’s time to fill in their tax returns, have everything they need to hand and can sail through it in a morning or less. Not me. And quite possibly not you either. Actually, I do have a system of sorts – the euphemistically-named “dump file” system. Everything related to income tax goes into a big box, and at the end of the year I spend days – two or three, usually – arranging it in some sort of order and turning it into a spreadsheet that bears at least a passing resemblance to what I’ve actually earned and what I’ve actually spent. Then I send it all off to my accountant, who is the rampart that stands between me and HMRC. We all know the quote about death and taxes (although for the life of me I can’t remember who actually said it – Mark Twain?), but in point of fact we very nearly didn’t have income tax. It was invented in 1799 along with window tax and hearth tax and clock tax and all those other weird taxes that paid for the Napoleonic Wars. At first it was fairly mild – 10% of all incomes above £60 a year – and as soon as the war was over it was scrapped like all the others. Even when it was reintroduced in 1842 to recover from a financial crisis, like how never happens nowadays – hah! – it wasn’t expected to be permanent. But it turned out to be one of the easiest of taxes to collect because, in the eyes of the voters (most of whom still didn’t have to

pay it), it was the fairest, and – well, we still have it. But it was only about 100 years ago that Lloyd George’s Liberal government really started giving it some wellie. In 1874, for instance, it yielded less than 10% of all government income. Then in 1918 Lloyd George whacked the rate up to 30% to pay for World War I, and even though Mrs Thatcher slashed it to 22% it’s still the mainstay of the Treasury’s revenues. For those of us lucky enough to have a job – or unlucky enough to be chained to a desk, depending on how you look at it – income tax is something that can be taken for granted because since 1944, when PAYE was invented, it’s been docked off wages before you can take it down the bookie’s. For the rest of us – well, it’s not something you want to get wrong. HMRC is actually amazingly patient with dysfunctional arithmophobics like me. They’re always very cheery and patient on the odd occasions when I have to ring them, and although I’m sure they wouldn’t bung me in chokey for an error of a few quid, they do quite reasonably expect to receive any underpayment back as quickly as they refund overpayments (which I’ve always found to be pleasingly quickly). And that can blow quite a hole in my none-toocareful budgeting. Which is why I have an accountant. She’s not all that cheap, but she’s as comforting as a favourite armchair. No shocks, no surprises, nothing to worry about – and occasionally you even find a 50p stuck down the side.

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Five Best Diet Changes

By Debbie Singh-Bhatti A new year - a new start. How can you start improving your diet and your chances of leading a healthier lifestyle? First â&#x20AC;&#x201C; eat breakfast! After many hours without food our bodies need refuelling to bring the blood sugar back up and ensure the brain and muscles are functioning properly. Eating breakfast aids concentration and creates energy. Drink more water We lose on average 2-4 litres of water a day, which needs to be replaced. Current advice is to drink 6-8 glasses daily to ensure that our brain, blood and muscles are able to function at their best. Eat more fruit and vegetables. Their vitamins and minerals boost the immune system, whilst antioxidants fight cancer and disease, and fibre cleanses the gut. We should eat five portions per day. Eat less red meat Reduce the risk of bowel and other cancers. Health experts suggest 500g per week (the equivalent of one steak, one pork

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chop, 2 sausages and a portion of Bolognese sauce) or 70g per day (three rashes of bacon). Eat more consciously Take time to really taste and savour the food in your mouth. Be aware of the textures and flavours - and chances are you will enjoy your food more whilst eating less of it! Remember, you are what you eat. Eat healthy, be healthy!

After

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Sale Savvy!

BY Debbie Singh-Bhatti SALE! No matter where you look or where you go, the message at this time of the year is the same: now is the time to bag yourself a bargain. Yet even though buying items in the sales can make your hard earned cash go further, please remember that you are still spending money, not saving it! Here are a few tips for getting the best possible deals without ending up with buyer’s remorse! First of all, do your homework before the sales start. Visit your favourite shops and pick out the items that you really want to buy, and even try them on beforehand. Make a list and stick to it, then when the shops open you can make a beeline for the items you want without wasting time, and risking life and limb battling with a hundred other shoppers who are elbowing their way through the pile of reduced items! Alternatively, why not shop online? Still do the research, but buy in the comfort of your home without having to wrestle your way through a busy store. Online shops usually give some indication of stock levels. If they only have a few items left then make your purchase at the beginning of the sale, but if there are plenty, why not wait a week or so to see if the price drops further? When deciding what to buy in the sales, don’t choose anything that you wouldn’t be tempted to pay full price for. If you don’t love it, don’t buy it – or you could end up with something you won’t wear and it will end up being a complete waste of money – no matter how much you ‘saved’ compared with the usual price! When tempted to buy something, ask yourself whether you already have something like it in your wardrobe at home. If you do, it begs the question, do you really need it? You might have a penchant for a particular style or colour, but honestly, how many black pencil skirts do you really need?! That said, it is much better to buy items that you can add to your capsule wardrobe than it is to snap up a statement jacket, or bizarre shirt, that will only team up with one or two pieces in your clothing collection - even it does have 70%

off! Stick with classic, timeless designs in tonal colours that suit your skin type, and in styles that flatter your body shape. Choose neutral colours which can be dressed up or down with colourful accessories and your clothes will go much further! So, armed with this guide to savvy sales shopping, go grab yourself a bag and bag yourself a bargain!

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GARDEN VIEW

January days are short The excitement of Christmas is over, and the decorations which have adorned our homes for the past month are gone. I don’t know about you, but the house always seems so bare and empty in January. Maybe it’s because it was filled with cards, people and festive clutter for slightly longer than it should have been! It’s not only the inside space though, as the garden looks pretty bleak too right now. There won’t be any sign of life out there for ages yet, as the frozen soil, heavy frosts and possibly snow mean that plants and animals are, quite rightly, still dormant. I often wonder whether humans were also meant to hibernate, as we indulge our natural instincts to snuggle up in warm spaces, eat stodgy food and sleep more. The daylight hours may be short, but they are lengthening slowly, and it’s the slight change in night length which causes plants to begin to awaken. Plants use a variety of ways in which to respond to their environmental conditions, and seem much better at it than us humans. It’s because they can’t just slip on a coat, turn up the heating, or turn on a tap for a drink, that plants have evolved very clever ways to survive. You may ask yourself how a plant knows when its time to wake up, when to flower and when to lose their leaves, and it’s an interesting question, if a little too scientific for some. It’s all to do with a plants circadian clock, which responds and stimulates changes based on the number of light/dark hours in any 24 hour period. This means that as the plant registers the slight increase in daylight hours (or more correctly the decrease in dark hours), responses such as flowering or leaf fall can occur. Plants use other methods too such as vernalisation, whereby bulbs for example, need a certain period of cold in order to flower. Plant biology is a really interesting topic, and learning why plants respond the way they do can help to develop an understanding about where they will thrive. You can use this information to be a more educated gardener, and to help increase your chances of success with plants. If all that has just confused you

don’t worry, next time you are given a plant, just pop it in anywhere, and if it dies … well, at least there’s a gap to buy something else! Here are a few jobs to do in the garden to keep you warm this month: • Prune apple and pear trees • Recycle your Christmas tree or shred it for mulch • Dig over soil in the vegetable garden • Plant new fruit bushes if the ground is not frozen • Continue taking hardwood cuttings of deciduous trees, shrubs and currant bushes • Buy or order vegetable seeds and seed potatoes • Cut the old leaves from hellebores to reveal their flowers • Plant bare-root roses, trees, shrubs and hedging • Melt or break frozen pond surfaces so fish can breathe

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P and R Bathrooms

SECOND TO NONE SERVICE

There is a dizzying array of options open to anyone considering a new bathroom. Followers of popular home fashions and the latest styles featured in home design magazines will be familiar with some of the choices available, but to access the experience and guidance I felt I needed, I went along to visit P and R Bathrooms. The P and R Bathrooms showroom on Lurke Street in Bedford is a huge and impressive area with many, many display bathrooms cleverly laid out to make it easy to see individual styles and familiarize oneself with every option. With expert help it was much easier to discover the latest bathroom looks suitable for my home and a variety of tastes and budgets. ‘The main concern for many people these days is

bathroom furniture and storage. There are two big choices’ explain Paul, the ‘P’ of P and R. ‘The fully fitted bathroom or the free-standing, modular bathroom.’ I give him a confused frown and with no further ado I am being gently ushered towards an impressive looking show bathroom. The cistern is invisible, no pipework is on display whatsoever. The cupboards are ranged across the back wall and are deliciously sleek with real oak doors and plenty of drawers for easy-access to toiletries and towels. There is a fully coordinated worktop for a really clean look and a sink which I am told can be recessed into the surface for a solid surface finish or I can choose one which is fitted onto the counter top and has a more traditional look. ‘Many people favour the fully fitted bathroom because it has that modern edge. It features clean, long lines and with the right amount of storage space it is easy to maintain that sleek, tidy look that works so well. It is brilliant for smaller bathrooms and can actually make them appear larger. Clever lighting can work wonders in smaller spaces too and it is easy to incorporate that into a fitted bathroom and make the most of that very finished, polished look.’ ‘The alternative is to choose a free-standing or modular bathroom.’ I am guided towards a shining

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example as Paul continues. ‘Even though there is no counter-top or fitted furnishings in here the pipework can still be hidden because it is recessed into the wall. The storage – whatever you choose, cupboards, drawers, or a combination, can be wall mounted and tiled around so that it still has that very finished, sleek look but there need not be so much of it so again, this can work well in smaller bathrooms . The cupboards or drawers that you do choose have true space – non of it is in use for hiding pipework and so the storage is not compromised in any way. There are all sorts of furniture options so that you can still have that longline look and as everything is wall mounted there is nothing underneath which can make cleaning easier and lend a more open feel to the room.’ After spending time in the P and R showroom I am absolutely sure of the style I would like in our new bathroom. Our house is older and styled more traditionally and so I am glad to have the option of a free standing bathroom with all the modern convenience of recessed pipework and furniture that can accommodate the storage that our family needs. P and R Bathrooms have been in the bathroom business for a long time. ‘The beauty of having been in this business for the years that we have is that we use only suppliers who have proved themselves, the ones with the best track record of quality products and service. We insist on this because we insist that our customers are happy with their bathroom, and that has to be true, really honestly true, down the whole line – confident and happy designers, suppliers and installers result in delighted customers who come back to us time and again. And that really is our experience.’ P and R Bathrooms can undertake the complete transformation of your bathroom, ensuring the plumbers, carpenters, electricians and installers are all of the highest standard with experience and workmanship that is unrivalled. ‘We don’t have to provide the complete package, some people just want us to supply the bathroom, others want design and supply, but our customers who have trusted us with the whole package have all been thrilled with the results as well as the fact that they could just leave it all in our hands and there was no stress or added responsibility for them.’ If you are contemplating a new look for your littlest room, I would not hesitate to recommend a trip to P and R Bathrooms. Being able to make the choice by

spending time in such a huge variety of bathrooms, benefitting from expert advice followed by a design service and installation that you can trust ensures that P and R Bathrooms are second to none.

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9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 0845 434 8401 Website: www.pandrbathrooms.co.uk Open 9:00am-5:00pm Mon - Fri 10:ooam-4:00pm Saturday To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

Wrap up

for winter Winter is upon us and even if you think that it can’t become any colder, it’s time to face facts because the lowest temperatures are likely yet to come. Most plants in British gardens are good and hardy, but when conditions become particularly miserable even these may suffer. So whether your garden is already covered in snow and ice, or simply suffering from a slight frosting, it’s time to make sure that it’s wrapped up warm. Plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to winter damage as their roots are not protected beneath the soil but instead are relatively exposed with only the container and a layer of compost to protect them. This leaves the roots in serious danger so, if the garden soil is not frozen solid, plunge any pot that can be plunged. If it’s too heavy to move then wrap it up well in several layers of bubble wrap polythene or old curtains – it may not look pretty but it’ll do the job. Most shrubs and trees in your garden will be ‘hardy’ in the UK, able to withstand all but the most harsh weather but if very harsh weather is forecast or there has been a spell of mild weather which may have encouraged the plant to produce some soft, new growth, then drape a double layer of horticultural fleece over the top growth of the plants and anchor it well. A double fleece layer can of course be used on plants in beds and borders too. Make sure you weigh down the edges of the fleece well with bricks, or use metal pegs at intervals along its length. Larger individual plants in borders can be given good, individual protection if you use four sturdy canes to create a framework, wrap with netting or chicken wire and fill the central space around the plant with dry bracken, straw or leaves. Many wall shrubs, for example the pineapple broom, are grown in this relatively warm and sheltered spot because they aren’t the hardiest of plants. To dramatically reduce any risk of cold damage you can make a similar ‘cage’ of mesh around these and again fill it with dry material so that the plant inside remains snug. It is essential with any such protection that you don’t use materials that cannot ‘breathe’ or else it may become damp inside and the plants will start to deteriorate. Evergreens in containers and in open ground may

suffer from drought as well as foliage or stem growth – during the cold weather they continue to need a fair amount of water and if this is frozen solid in the soil, they soon suffer. Deep mulch applied to the soil surface on the root area before the ground becomes frosted will help immensely. During milder spells, if the soil is dry, give them a drink too. Although most fruit trees such as apples, pears, cherries and plums are definitely hardy, they are also prone to damage. Although quite tough, the newly opened blossom and the buds themselves may be damaged, with late frosts being most harmful because the buds are further developed. A fleece cover will help here too. If you live in a particularly cold part of the country and are planting new fruit plants buy them from a local specialist nursery who know local conditions, and try to buy late flowering varieties where possible. If your garden is inclined to be a bit windswept, it may be worth investing in some fleecy jackets for your favourite shrubs. These are made from fleece and are like massive bags, complete with a drawstring at the open end. Just pop them over the plant and tighten the drawstring. Alternatively use a double layer of ordinary fleece, such as the type we offer on my website, wrap it around and cut to size before clipping or tying in place. Outdoor taps and pipework are likely to need protection too, and if left open to the elements could result in burst pipes and expensive bills. I suggest turning outside taps off at the mains, but if this isn’t feasible or logical, do make sure any exposed pipework is properly insulated. Your local builder’s merchant or DIY store is worth a visit for this job - well insulated pipes and garden taps could save you a fortune. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood. com for some great gift ideas and items for your garden, including signed copies of Pippa’s books, hand-made terracotta herb planters and wall plaques, cloches, pop-up plant cloches, raised bed kits, ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Cards, heated propagators and lots more! You can also sign up for Pippa’s newsletter and receive a free e-book on organic gardening.

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Pottons Specialist Welding and Fabricating Company

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Rural Ramblings BY GEOFF WHARTON

Are You Feeling Lucky? Thinking about all of those ash trees which, we are told, will inevitably soon be dying, and all of the efforts which will be made to replace them by collecting and propagation from seed got me to think about this fascinating method of growing new plants, which is both easy and enjoyable. The other advantages of growing from seed is that it is very cheap and lots of seedlings can be produced. However it can take a long time to first of all collect and prepare the seed, store it correctly and wait for the seedlings to germinate and eventually grow into something which resembles a small tree or shrub. The other big disadvantage is the problem of variation, but this can also be, paradoxically, useful. Confusing? I will attempt to explain the secret world of the plant breeder!! First of all you must cover yourself with waterproof materials and venture outdoors armed with a load of poly bags. Venturing forth into the undergrowth your aim is to find fruits and seeds still dangling from interesting trees and shrubs or you can shortcut all this effort by negotiating with a group of smallish but keen small children to do the work for you and this tactic can be surprisingly productive if a small child-centred reward is on offer. Send them away on their task and while they are scurrying about in the undergrowth, you can retire to the warmth and spend the time looking up tree and shrub seed in some of the excellent catalogues which are now available. If your seed comes in the form of squashy fruits, mush it all up and sieve out the small seed from within. Label your samples as collected! Now the secret bit! Hardy trees and shrubs are tough and can resist frosty weather. When their seed is dispersed from the parent plant it relies on an internal system to protect it from damage by the cold. This system prevents immediate germination in the late Autumn even if the conditions then are favourable because the plant is clever and “knows” that the weather will eventually turn colder and this would kill it’s babies!! Therefore it has designed an internal system which prevents germination until it has experienced a period of low temperatures which is equivalent to a normal winter. Once this cold has been experienced, the internal hormones which had stopped the process of germination have now gone and if the weather is warm,the seed will germinate and will not be frozen to death because now it is Spring and the cold weather has gone. Clever eh? Therefore in order to grow trees which are hardy, you have to mimic these conditions and the easiest way is the put them in a poly bag in the fridge with a label and a little

damp peat and leave them there for about 6 weeks (if the lady of the house will allow!). Once this period is over, the peat with the seeds can be removed and the contents germinated in a warmish place just like other seed . This method (vernalisation) can be used on fruit trees as well, such as apples. Germination rates can be good and you will have lots of apple seedling trees to give away. There is only one problem ! The seedlings will NOT be the same as their parent so if you wanted to have lots of say Cox apple trees, hard luck, you won’t get them unless you are prepared to graft or bud them onto a rootstock. They will produce fruit of all sorts of shapes, sizes and flavours and the vast majority, if not all of them, will be inferior to the original. HOWEVER, you may hit the jackpot, as did the person Bramley, who produced the best cooking apple of all time! So, are you going to give it a try and spin the wheel of chance? PS Health and safety advice - Don’t eat the food in the plastic bags which have labels!

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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Keep warm this winter

By Alex Brown

In the dark, dank days of January, it’s vital that we keep ourselves warm. For older people particularly, cold weather can lead to health problems such as chest infections, heart attacks and strokes. The Government recommends that we keep our main living room between 18 and 21°C, and the rest of the house at a minimum of 16°C. You may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments of up to £400 if you were born on or before 5 July 1950 – call 08459 151515 for details. Also, the Warm Front Scheme (0800 316 2805) offers grants for heating and insulation improvements. Make sure you wrap up warm when you’re indoors and out, at daytime and night. Several thinner layers are more effective at trapping heat than one thick layer. Thermal underwear is a great investment, and a hat, scarf and gloves will stop you losing body heat. There’s nothing worse than being cold in bed, so use an electric blanket or hot water bottle before

you get in, and wear bed socks. Eat plenty of warming stews and soups, and have regular hot drinks. Spices such as chilli, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and ginger will warm you up from the inside! It is also important to keep active – try to move around at least once an hour.

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ANIMAL KNOW-HOW

Seasonal advice for winter During a cold snap, a fluffy scarf, an extra pair of socks or a delicious hot chocolate can make things more bearable for us humans. But for many animals, winter can be deadly ¬– so please do your bit to prevent animals suffering. • If you have a pond, make sure you check it every day for ice; as toxic gases can build up in the water of a frozen pond. These may kill fish or frogs that are hibernating at the bottom. If a pond freezes over, carefully place a saucepan of hot water on the surface to gently melt a hole in the ice. Never tip boiling water straight onto the pond or break the ice with force, as this can harm or even kill any fish living there. Dog owners must keep their pets well away from ponds and lakes that are iced over. Thin ice may break under a dog’s weight. Also watch out for dogs’ paws becoming impacted with snow – this can cause them discomfort. • Keep a close eye on outdoor pets, such as guinea pigs and rabbits. Put extra bedding in their home and be prepared to move them into a shed or unused garage for extra shelter whilst the weather is cold. • Try to maintain a regular routine with your dog. Although you may not feel like taking your dog for a walk on dark wintry evenings, exercise is needed to keep your pet happy and healthy. Always wear reflective clothing to make yourself visible when walking near roads in the dark. And don’t forget your pets too – fit

your dog with a reflective collar. • Give your pets a treat, but remember that too much rich food isn’t good for animals. Some seasonal foods, such as grapes, sultanas and raisins are toxic to dogs, and chocolate can actually kill them. Splinters of poultry bones are also dangerous to dogs and cats, as they can become stuck in their throats or even pierce their intestinal tract.   • If horses and ponies are kept outside during the winter they must have access to shelter at all times. They also need a constant supply of fresh water (check that ice hasn’t formed on it) and a rug to protect them against the cold and wet. Extra food will be needed too, as winter grazing provides very little nourishment. So, don’t forget your pets’ specific needs during the winter months. Try to keep to a regular routine of feeding and exercising them, and protect them from the harsh weather. ANIMAL KNOW-HOW is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA North Bedfordshire branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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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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Paddocks Boarding Cattery Peaceful location. No dogs boarded. Spacious, individual, heated chalets with large covered runs. Inspection welcome. Boarding from ÂŁ6.00/day. Rabbits/guinea pigs also boarded. 64 Meadow Road, Great Gransden

Telephone 01767 677 759 www.catterybedfordshire.co.uk Open all year.

The cattery for caring owners. Comfort and security for your pet. 58

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Massive clearance sale 25% off all pond equipment, excluding pond food. When its gone, its gone!

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The Andrews

DANCE CENTRE CHILDRENS DANCE CLASSES Held at:

Potton & Biggleswade We specialise in teaching children from the age of 3yrs & above in:

• Disco/Street • Ballet • Tap Dancing Our classes are lively and enjoyable and most importantly lots of fun !! Teachers CRB Checked & qualified with the I.S.T.D and N.A.T.D

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Cape Town

BY SOLANGE HANDO Draped like a silver necklace around the green slopes of Signal Hill, Cape Town, the ‘Mother City’, is an intriguing mix of pastel-coloured walls, red roofs and mighty skyscrapers lapped by the Atlantic surf. Dutch and British settlers left a fair heritage, from the star-shaped castle of Good Hope to the Houses of Parliament, the Anglican Cathedral, once the diocese of Desmund Tutu, and the Company’s Gardens. The modern town has tree-lined avenues and upmarket stores but in the midst of it all are quaint colonial buildings and colourful alleyways, especially in the Malay district, a favourite location for film producers and still home to descendants of Asian slaves. Seapoint is a leisurely place to picnic on the lawns, stroll on the promenade to enjoy the ocean breeze or gaze at fur seals basking on the rocks. Meanwhile beyond the lively Greenmarket at the heart of town, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront bustles from morning to night. There are fishing boats along the quay, English pubs and al fresco restaurants, Zulu dancers, Jazz musicians and people of all ages having a good time. It’s a great place to sample fresh seafood or a mega ice cream, hunt for the finest African craft or sail around the harbour feeling at home as you gaze at the bright red Victorian clock tower. A dainty pedestrian bridge swings now and then to let the boats go through and Table Mountain looks down on the scene in quiet splendour. Silhouetted against the blue sky or lost in the mist at over 1000 metres, the mountain has a mind of its own so it’s best to check the forecast and

choose a good day to head for the top. Some visitors walk up the steep trails, three hours or so by the easiest route, most queue for the cable car to be whizzed up to the summit in just six minutes. The platform revolves so everyone has a turn to look at the view, more vertiginous as you climb until you near the top, hanging just metres from the sheer cliff face. Up there, the panorama takes your breath away, from the glistening city and harbour to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held in captivity, now a sanctuary for seabirds and penguins, from the verdant Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head to the Cape peninsula and the Twelve Apostles stretching into the ocean. Myriad footpaths crisscross the vast rocky plateau, sprinkled with 1500 species of plants, among them flowering protea and golden fynbos. There are Cape canaries and orange sunbirds, goat antelopes and elands, baboons and rock hyraxes, resembling oversized guinea pigs, who have wisely set up home near the coffee shop. Suddenly the fog horn blows, sending everyone rushing back to the cable car. Mist rolls across the mountain tops, the temperature drops, the view disappears and you can’t see the edge of the cliff. It’s a relief to head back down into the sunshine where the ocean rolls as far as you can see and the beat of African drums and dancers echoes along the waterfront. Table Mountain has vanished like a dream but on the eastern slopes of the National Park, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens release their most exotic fragrance in the setting sun.

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Swimming Lessons • • • • • •

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Mats Cars Potton Based Local and Long Distance Private Hire Airport/Stations/Nights Out etc Can now carry up to 7 passengers + luggage in our new Luxury MPV. 4 Passenger car also available. Airport Transfers From Luton £40, Stansted £65, Heathrow £80, Gatwick £130 Tel: 01767 261871 Mob: 07983 218367 www.mats-cars.co.uk All major credit/debit cards accepted

Mini Bus Hire For All Occasions Contact Tony on 01767 631475 or 07739 864228 Email: tonycharter@aol.com

After 64

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Cat’s out of the bag

BY JAMES BAGGOTT

There’s no shortage of interest in the new Jaguar F-Type, the firm’s boss Jeremy Hicks tells James Baggott, more than 1,000 buyers have placed a deposit or expressed a serious interest in buying the F-Type. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) managing director Jeremy Hicks said that he asked his dealer network to find out just how popular the new sports car would be, and the results came as a nice surprise. ‘We asked how many people were seriously interested,’ said Hicks. ‘What we’ve found is a very strong level of interest. F-Type will draw from performance saloon and coupe buyers because the design credentials are great. We want this car to reestablish the Jaguar brand. It’s a big statement car and returns us to where our roots lie: sports cars.’ Priced from £58,000, Jaguar is aggressively targeting the Porsche 911 and even though it’s a small sector in terms of sales, the British manufacturer is hoping for great things. ‘We have huge expectations of what it can do for the brand,’ added Hicks. ‘It’s not going to be massive in terms of volumes – remember this is a niche sector we are operating in. The good news is we have three positives; it’s well priced, it drives brilliantly and there’s a home advantage.’ The F-Type, arriving in the brand’s 90 dealers in the spring, is the start of a product offensive from Jaguar. The XF Sportbrake will also be arriving soon and other volume sectors are being explored too. ‘We are laying the foundations for growth and that means new cars in new segments,’ revealed Hicks. ‘The obvious place to go is down to the burgeoning area of the market. We need smaller cars, saloon cars and we’re looking at the crossover market. The SUV market is growing and even though we’re there

with JLR, the definitive SUV maker, there is scope for Jaguar too.’ Hicks explained JLR invests £2bn a year in R&D (he claims that’s higher than any UK car manufacturer) and the team are looking at several options including a replacement for the X Type. ‘Jaguar has an opportunity to move down from the XF,’ he said. ‘A Mondeo sized car. We’ve been there with the X Type and did well however the problem with the X and S Types, in my opinion, was that they were too retrospective. The F Type isn’t; it has lineage and clear DNA, but it’s not a retro car.’ JLR has been a fantastic success story. Whilst in 2008 the manufacturer was accepting loans from the government, new products have launched successfully and the maker has bounced back. ‘What’s the secret? Great cars,’ explained Hicks. ‘The crisis was a combination of financial problems and the SUV market being down in general, plus this was immediately prior to the XF launch.’ ‘Since then we’ve had the XF and Evoque launches which have transformed things. We are up 30% year on year. I put that down to a passionate team and a real can-do attitude. Even the dealer network can see that.’ Hicks said the dealers are seeing the returns too with profitability up. But the MD has ruled out increasing the size of either the Jaguar or Land Rover networks from their current 90 and 120 points respectively. ‘Both franchises are profitable,’ he said. ‘But that doesn’t mean we’re going to drive growth by expanding the network. The current sites are making good returns so it’s more important to drive more capacity through those. We can see bigger sites at some of our outlets, but not new dealers.’

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New Year’s Resolution?

Get healthy with a home gym Getting into shape at home has many advantages over going to the gym. Not only do you cut out travelling time, membership fees and queuing for the most popular machines, but you can also play whatever music you like and happily wear your most embarrassing tracksuit, writes Katherine Sorrell. Where to start A separate room kitted out with all the latest equipment might be your dream, but it is possible to plan some exercise space in the smallest shared room. The key to getting the design right is to decide whether you want to increase your strength, reduce your fat, tone your body, or a combination of all three. Then you’ll need to buy the relevant equipment around which to design the space. The smallest safe area in which to exercise is about ten square feet, and this could simply be the corner of a room with a clear, cushioned floor, adequate ceiling height and reasonable lighting. Keep a deflatable Swiss ball (for high-performance conditioning), one or two medicine balls, some resistance bands and a heart-rate monitor in a cupboard or drawer and hey presto, you have a ready-made gym. Other equipment that takes up little space includes a skipping rope, dumb bells or hand

weights, a cable stack of weights that can tuck into a corner or a folding bike or rower. At the other extreme, the sky really is the limit - a cross-trainer, treadmill and rowing machine, an area for weight training or yoga, somewhere to stretch to warm up and down, and perhaps a mini trampoline or a punch bag. It would have proper flooring and a full-length mirror. As for the cost? With gym equipment you really do get what you pay for: machines can cost from several hundred to several thousand pounds each, depending on their complexity. The practicalities Rule number one: don’t install a gym containing heavy equipment (not just weights – even a treadmill can weigh 150kg) on an upper floor without advice from a structural engineer. And whether you’re running on the treadmill or following an aerobics DVD, using a gym can be noisy, so it’s best to avoid siting it above or adjacent to a living room or bedroom. If you are going to play very loud music, you may want to consider some form of additional soundproofing, too. A ground floor site that’s well away from living or sleeping areas but close to a shower room is ideal. Place any permanent equipment so that there

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is room both to use it and move around it safely. If more than one person is likely to use the gym at any time, you’ll need to allow extra space. It makes sense to group cardio-vascular type equipment (treadmill, cross-trainer, bike and so on) together, perhaps lined up facing a view or a TV. You need space at each side to swing your arms and step on and off, with at least a metre run-off behind the treadmill. If you mirror the back wall, you can put your strength area here, perhaps with dumb bells, a bench or even a multi-gym, allowing adequate space to use each item without banging into anything else. At least one opening window is essential for ventilation, and you may want to add a fan too. You’ll also need adequate heating so that the room is at a comfortable temperature year round. The ideal floor would be non-slip and easy to keep clean, perhaps wood laminate with a thick underlay. For floor exercises, the cheapest option is to unroll a mat; alternatively, you could cover the entire floor in 10-15mm thick rubberised gym matting. Lighting should be adequate but not overbright – inset ceiling lights are ideal. Dangling pendants and jutting wall lights present obstacles that could annoying or even dangerous. One last essential is music. You might be happy with a portable radio, an MP3 player with headphones or a stereo plugged into a wall

socket (don’t let wires trail around, though), or you may wish to invest in a bespoke music system with hidden speakers and smart controls. Whether you prefer Fleetwood Mac or Flo Rida, Roxy Music or Rihanna, it’s time to crank up the volume and become that superhoned athlete you always wanted to be. • For advice on setting up a home gym, you can’t beat a personal trainer, who can help identify the best workout for you, what equipment you’ll need and how to use it. Contact the National Register of Personal Trainers on 0844 8484 644 or go to www. nrpt.co.uk. Alternatively, a reputable fitness equipment retailer should be able to advise on what to buy and where to put it. All the pictures are from John Lewis, 08456 049 049; www.johnlewis.com

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‘HIDDEN GEM’

SWISS GARDEN SET FOR £2.8M RESTORATION Garlands of roses frame the Cascade Bridge in the Swiss Garden. Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

Old Warden’s delightful Swiss Garden will undergo a full restoration over the coming three years after The Shuttleworth Trust succeeded in winning a £2.8m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The much loved Swiss Garden is a rare Regency park whose first owner Lord Ongley wanted to recreate a Swiss landscape close to home in the fashionable Picturesque style. In the 1870s the Garden was bought by the industrialist Joseph Shuttleworth who introduced Victorian ‘improvements’, while keeping the original Regency layout. HLF’s grant will enable the Shuttleworth Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council to repair the Garden’s 13 listed buildings and structures including the Swiss Cottage, the Indian Kiosk, the Grotto and Fernery, ornate ironwork bridges and arches, stone animals and birds, marble memorial tablets and stone and metal urns. Volunteers wanted Local residents are encouraged to get involved in the Swiss Garden. The aim is to attract a wide range of people to volunteer in, visit and enjoy the Swiss Garden. There is a variety of roles and hours can be flexible to fit in with other commitments.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Swiss Garden, please contact: The Swiss Garden Tel: 01767 627666 Email: swissgardenoffice@shuttleworth.org Special Closing Day Event On Saturday 5th January from 10.30am to 3pm the Swiss Garden will be open to the public for the last time before the restoration work begins. The day will include free entry to the Garden plus a free Exhibition ‘Past, Present and Future’ in the Princess Charlotte Room in the Visitor Centre, where there will also be refreshments. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to provide more information about the plans for the Garden, including volunteer and apprenticeship opportunities. Hugh Duberly CBE LL, Chairman of the Shuttleworth Trust said: “We look forward to welcoming many more people to the Garden as the restoration work progresses. We’re confident that they will be delighted with its originality and beauty.”

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A host of golden daffodils lead to the Swiss Cottage at the Swiss Garden. Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

Shuttleworth Trust The Shuttleworth Trust was created in 1940 by Dorothy Shuttleworth in memory of her son Richard who was killed in a flying accident aged 31. As well as the Swiss Garden, the Trust is custodian of the Shuttleworth Collection of historic aircraft. Old Warden Park is also home to the Bird of Prey centre and Shuttleworth College which specialises in land and environment courses. Heritage Lottery Fund Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) aims to make a lasting difference for heritage, people and communities across the UK and help build a resilient heritage economy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 33,000 projects with more than £5billion across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk.

Lilac wisteria in full bloom in the Swiss Garden Grotto. Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust. Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England, said: “We’re pleased to be supporting plans to restore the Swiss Garden as well as providing muchneeded learning and volunteering programmes and four apprenticeships.”

Snow and ice across the lake at the Swiss Garden. Photo credit: The Shuttleworth Trust.

THE SWISS GARDEN

Shuttleworth Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Beds Tel: 01767 627666 Website: www.shuttleworth.org Email: swissgardenoffice@shuttleworth.org To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122

SEASONAL DELIGHTS CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE

If you have a bowlful of nuts left over from Christmas then why not make this classic American favourite with a British twist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; simply replace half the pecan nuts with walnuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts. Serve with a dollop of thick Greek yoghurt or whipped cream. Serves 8 Ready in 1Â˝ hours plus chilling INGREDIENTS For the pastry: 225g plain flour 100g butter, diced 1 medium egg, beaten with 2tbsp cold water For the filling: 100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces 50g butter, diced 75g golden syrup 4 tbsp maple syrup 75g caster sugar 4 medium eggs, beaten 175g pecan nuts (or a mixture of pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts and Brazil nuts) 1 To make the pastry, sift the flour into a bowl and add the diced butter. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the egg and water and mix to a crumbly dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth. Wrap and chill the pastry for 20 minutes. 2 Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface and use to line a 25cm round deep metal pie tin (or a loose-based fluted flan tin). Crimp the pastry edge with your fingers and prick the base all over with a fork. Chill for 30 minutes. 72

3 Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 and place a baking sheet in the oven to heat. To make the filling, melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Remove from the heat and stir in the golden syrup, maple syrup and sugar then whisk in the beaten eggs. Chop half the nuts and stir into the mixture. 4 Gently pour the mixture into the pastry case and sprinkle over the rest of the nuts (roughly chopping the hazelnuts and Brazil nuts, if using). Slide the pie tin onto the preheated baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 180C/350F/Gas 4 and bake for a further 2530 minutes until the filling has set and the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold.

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what’S ON?

IN JANUARY

2, 9, 16, 23 & 20 January Yoga Classes 7.30-9pm The Church Rooms, St. Swithun’s Church, Sandy £7 per class Every Wednesday. Everyone welcome. Tel: 01767 680926 Email: johanna.e.singh@googlemail.com 5 January Hardy Plant Society Talk 2pm The Wetherley Centre, Biggleswade Small charge for visitors Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society present a talk by Mike Brown on ‘All in a garden green-the features you may find in an historic garden’ Mike is an ex Head Gardener and College Lecturer, who designed the medieval gardens at Prebendal Manor, Northants. He is also a consultant for other projects. All welcome. Tel: Winifred 01234 721720 Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5 & 6 January Antique & Collectors Fair Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 9am-4pm Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester Adults & Concessions £3.50, Children Free, Online price Adults & Concessions £2.50 Whether you are a professional dealer, an avid collector looking to complete a cherished collection, or an enthusiast searching for the ‘once in a lifetime’ treasure, the fair offers a diverse range of antiques and collectables. Web: www.aztecevents.co.uk

8 January The Beautiful Fraud 10.00am Labour Hall, Crab Lane, Biggleswade Course £45 for 10 1½hr sessions. Various concessions available. Biggleswade WEA. An examination of the stars and film-makers of some of the greatest films of all time. Godard called cinema “The Beautiful Fraud”. Tutor Laurence Staig. Tel: Claire Bartram 01767 223524 Email: claire.bartram@ntlworld.com 9 January Langford WI Methodist Church Schoolroom, Langford at. 7.15pm Speaker: Mr. Len Little on “Training and use of Police Dogs”. Visitors welcome. £3 10 January Tudor, Stuart & Georgian Cambridge 10am Labour Hall, Crab Lane, Biggleswade, SG18 0LN Course £45 for 10 1½hr sessions. Various concessions available. Biggleswade WEA. Focusing on three centuries, including times of danger, turbulence and corruption, examining both town and university, daily life and some notable individuals. Tutor Honor Ridout.

Entries into our What’s On sections are free. If you have an event you would like us to publicise please email the details to whatson@villagermag.com 74

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what’S ON? IN JANUARY

12 January The Iron Lady (12) Doors open 2.30pm, film starts 3pm Space for Sports & Arts, Holmemead School, Mead End, Biggleswade Tickets £3.50 The Iron Lady tells the compelling story of Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep); a woman who smashed through the barriers of gender and class to be heard in a male-dominated world. The story concerns power and the price that is paid for power, and is a surprising and intimate portrait of an extraordinary and complex woman. Tel: 01767 626338 Web: www.ivelflix.org.uk 19 January The Opera Dudes - Licensed to Trill! 7.30pm Little Gransden Village Hall Tickets £8/£7 Another amazing and very funny show in conjunction with Arts in Cambs on Tour - some impressive singing too! Tel: S Sullivan 01767 677906 Email: ssulledit@aol.com

25 January Ceilidh Doors open 7.30pm, last dance 11.30pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Adults £10, Children (under 18) £6, Seniors (over 65) £9, Students / unwaged (with SU card/UB40) £7, First 6 Students Before 8pm FREE, Family (2 Adults + 3 Children) £28 Unicorn Ceilidhs are dedicated to providing high-energy ceilidhs for discerning dancers of all ages. Ceilidh dances are fast-paced, easy to learn, great fun - and addictive! Clear instructions from the caller before and during the set, allow anyone to join in and enjoy the dancing. Dances are held on the last Friday of the month. The combination of the finest live bands, top callers, local real ale and splendid venue, guarantees an excellent, fun-filled evening for all. Web: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

25-27 January Sleeping Beauty Friday 7.30pm, 23 January Saturday 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sandy Horticultural Association Sunday 7.30pm 7.30pm Quince Court, Sandy Stuart Memorial Hall, Tempsford £2 per person including refreshments Adults £7, Child (under 16) £5, Family (2+2) £20 A talk on The Swiss Gardens at Old Warden. Come and see Love triumph over Evil in the Web: www.sandyshow.org classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty. The Kingfisher Players, NODA Pantomime Award 24 January Winners, will keep you entertained with Potton History Society comedy and songs in their performances of 8.00pm Chris Lane’s adaptation of this classic story. The Community Centre, Brook End, Potton Tickets available from High Street Crafts, Come and join the Potton History Society for a Sandy or Steve Ward on 01767 691982 or presentation by Sandra Barker on the ancient Kingfisher Players website. craft of Straw Plaiting. Visitors are always Web: www.kingfisherplayers.co.uk welcome. Light refreshments provided. Web: www.pottonhistorysociety.com To advertise in The Villager and Townlife please call 01767 261 122 75

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That old thing? I never use it now

BY Claudia Leaf

During a recent house move I began to go through various drawers and cupboards that I hadn’t opened for some time. Sadly, I didn’t find a hidden stash of priceless jewellery, but I did discover something that gave me an odd shock of recognition. There, at the back of a drawer, was a box containing a small pad of blue writing paper with matching envelopes, a fountain pen and a box of ink cartridges. The box, with its neatly arranged contents, now seemed like something out of a museum - although the dated letter I found inside suggested that I must have been using it at least up to 2004. It alarmed me that something so utterly familiar and regularly used could become redundant within the space of a few years. I use emails all the time now when I communicate with friends and family. Any formal letter I might need to write look so much better typed and printed on the standard A4 sized paper that fits in my printer. What use is there, then, for a tiny pad of ‘proper’ paper and its matching, doll-sized envelopes? It now looks as quaint and outdated to me as quill pens and sealing wax must have done to my parents. This started me thinking about other things that are no longer part of our daily lives. For the last six months (since the last time we had a full family get-together) my teapot has stood, unused, on a shelf in my kitchen. I love the homeliness of a teapot but nowadays I find I actually don’t like the taste of tea that has stewed in its pot for more than five minutes. I prefer the freshly-brewed taste of teabags, so unless I’m making tea for more than three people, I don’t use the pot. The photo album is another familiar item that has gone the way of the dinosaurs. The last time I had photos properly printed was after a family holiday in 2006. My teenage children were already beginning to hide whenever my camera appeared, so the shots are mostly views plus the occasional glimpse of a youthful figure shrinking into the undergrowth, back turned or face covered. Maybe it’s just as well that all the family shots taken after that date remain securely on my computer’s hard drive. I do, however, regret the demise of the photo album because of the ease with which you could simply turn the pages without having to power

up, attach cables and turn on monitors. Do I sound old fashioned? Do I care? Don’t get me wrong, I think digital photography - and the freedom it offers to take an infinite number of photos - is fantastic. In fact, I’ve become a much better photographer since the advent of digital cameras because I find I’m much more willing to take risks and experiment. But despite all my good intentions I never seem to find the time to take my digital photos somewhere where they can be professionally printed: that means that I am now the only person in the family who views this vast record of trips, parties and holidays. There are so many other objects – once regarded as the stuff of everyday life – that seem to be disappearing at an alarming rate. When did you last make a call from a phone box? Read a printed map in a book? Watch a video cassette? Light a candle that smelt of candle wax rather than ‘fresh linen’ or ‘mango’? We tend to blame the march of technology for many of the changes but in truth new developments generally happen for two reasons: either someone has invented a better version (remember all those sharp-edged metal tabs from drinks cans that used to litter beaches and parks?) or we have simply become bored with doing things the old way. A desire to embrace the new is a very human quality and one that has served mankind well over the hundreds of thousands of years of our existence, but over the last few decades – thanks to the speed with which new technologies have developed - the rate of change has become exponential. In the fifty or so years since the first electronic, digital computer was created, people have had to master new skills undreamed of by their parents. In particular the Baby Boomer generation of the 1950s and 60s – confronted with major technological advances in middle age – have demonstrated how well humans can adapt. I’m happy with my current lifestyle even though I’ve had to sacrifice a few familiar objects along the way. My teapot’s status may have changed from an essential domestic item to a nostalgic collectors’ piece, but it still has pride of place in my kitchen.

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Plastic Fantastic

Langford Windows

There are no two ways about it: wood windows always add character to a property. They are inviting, homely and will certainly enhance most houses. The downside, of course, is the high maintenance, lower energy efficiency and recently the cost will almost always exceed that of plastic. But plastic wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always give you the aesthetics you may desire, or your property commands. However, there is now a product range on the market which does tick all the boxes and, even more surprisingly, they are manufactured in Biggleswade! The Storm range of windows and doors offers a very high quality wood-grain effect UPVC product which replicates the visual detailed beauty of traditional wood but with the major benefits of plastic. With full draught exclusion, weather proofing and noise reduction as well as significant maintenance reduction, they address the areas natural products are weaker in, particularly important with the recent rise in fuel tarrifs. Not only that but the nature of the products allow for more light to permeate as

the frames are narrower while still maintaining the traditional timber sight lines. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just come in white but a range of effects and colours (heritage greens being particularly popular at the moment) and to increase the light in the room further, the range can be coloured externally only. To further enhance the traditional look, leading and Georgian bars can be added and - the smallest of details to truly authenticate the look - a variety of handles, including the epitomy of the English country cottage, black or pewter monkey tail ironmongery can even be an option. Not something you would ever imagine sitting on plastic! To truly demonstrate the Storm authentic look, we have had several customers whose applications have passed the stringent Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation requirements. So, far from being purely functional, plastic really can improve the overall look, efficiency and function of your home, and without the maintenance it will certainly add to your precious time too!

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You Can’t Do That…

BY Chris Russell

5th October 2012 marked fifty years since the release of The Beatles’ first single, ‘Love Me Do’ a song and band that, quite simply, changed the world. This period in pop history was recently recreated in a BBC documentary, and a snippet of rare footage showing the Fab Four onstage at the Cavern reminded me of a rather hairy time in my own band’s history that took place on that very same stage. It was our first appearance at the Cavern, and I recall arriving at the venue in the afternoon and suddenly feeling very… well… posh. We weren’t in Berkshire any more, and I quickly decided that this would be a gig where I would try and keep my increasingly unpredictable mouth shut. More singy singy, less talky talky. By around 10.30pm we’d finished our set and, to our surprise, gone down really well. As we left the stage, the audience were shouting for an encore, but with this being relatively early in our careers we’d already played everything we knew. Behind the curtain, we huddled for a quick conference and our drummer Tony pointed out that there was one number we could do. A song we had learned recently for a friend’s wedding. A Beatles song. But no. You can’t do that, not in the birthplace of The Beatles. In fact, it’s not just that you shouldn’t cover The Beatles at the Cavern, it’s that you DON’T cover The Beatles at the Cavern, for precisely the same reason that you don’t wear a cardboard Queen Elizabeth mask to Buckingham Palace. But this would be okay, Tony insisted, because the track we happened to know was ‘You Can’t Do That’ (originally the B-side to ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’), and the built-in irony of this would cover us in the event of a revolt. Yeah right it would, I thought. But before I knew it, we were back onstage, standing in front of an expectant Beatle-mad crowd. ‘I’ve got a fact about The Beatles,’ said Tony suddenly, into the microphone, before I could begin the piano introduction. What was he doing? I looked out at the shadowy sea of faces. You could hear a pin drop. ‘The Beatles’ first gig,’ continued Tony, ‘wasn’t in Liverpool at all.’ Please don’t kill us, northerners. Please don’t

smash us in and mail our body parts to Tunbridge Wells. ‘Lennon and McCartney’s first ever gig wasn’t in Liverpool, it was in Reading. Where we live.’ This is it, I thought. This is, without a single shadow of a doubt, how I’m going to die. Darkness fell. For a moment, nobody uttered a sound. Then, as I opened my tightly scrunched eyes, I found to my surprise a room full of people sagely nodding their heads in agreement. It would appear that not only was Tony’s fact watertight, but of course the kind of musos who hang out at the Cavern Club are so knowledgeable about The Beatles that they knew this to be true. And the rest is history. We threw out a spirited rendition of ‘You Can’t Do That’, and it went down a storm. So here’s to you, John, Paul, George & Ringo. Thanks for starting a band, and for changing the world. (And thank you to the good people of Liverpool for sparing our lives.) Chris plays piano in South London power-pop band The Lightyears. The Lightyears, voted the UK’s BEST POP/ROCK ACT at the Indy Awards, have played Wembley Stadium, toured across four continents and released a record with Sting’s producer. Chris has recently completed his first book, “Mockstars”; a selection of video extracts are available to view at www.ProjectLightyears. com.

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Ty Interiors Prize Crossword 1st Prize £25 Name:

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

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this section and send to the address below before 18th January 2013. Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP Tel:

Address:

Please enter me into the prize draw to be drawn at end of 3 months for £1000 off a fully fitted kitchen. T&C’s apply. (Please tick) Last Month’s Crossword Winners. Congratulations to: 1st prize - Mr P Chells from Great Barford and 2nd prize - Heather Grant from Sandy For last month’s solution please visit www.villagermag.com Across 1 Argument (7) 5 Engine (5) 8 Certain (9) 9 Rodent (3) 10 Nightclub (5) 12 Oblivious (7) 13 Musical backing (13) 15 Operating room (7) 17 Edition (5) 19 Ocean (3) 20 Young adults (9) 22 Fashion (5) 23 Weekday (7) Down 1 Chopped up (5) 2 Male child (3) 3 Alike (7) 4 Incentive (13) 5 TV, radio (5) 6 Intimidates (9) 7 Draw back (7) 11 Personal Assistant (9) 13 Painters (7) 14 Copy (7) 16 Heading (5) 18 Thesis (5) 21 Finish (3)

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The Better Life

Confessions of an Eco-Worrier As soon as we adopted our new way of life – in the countryside and living off the land – it became apparent that being ‘green’ came with the territory. We’re novices really though, but I think I’m doing my bit… In these times of global warming, arctic winters, unpredictable weather and failing crops, many people are asking: “What has the environment ever done for me?” Well, it’s put up with us human beings, for one thing. And it spends more time in the garden than I do. But I do worry that some of my efforts may backfire. The more I look into it, the less being green seems to be black and white. I think I have the basics covered. I recycle, I compost; I even Freegle and Freecycle. My paper, cardboard, tins and glass (but not the broken glass, apparently) can all be put out for local council collection. But they won’t take plastics. So, to make the journey economically viable, I drive everything over to my nearest recycling bank – in the out-of-town supermarket car park. Which makes sense, when you think about it, as supermarkets have recycled many of our local shops. I also take unwanted clothing there for the charity containers. Then I hide and watch other people filch the items out again, which I suppose is double recycling. I try to do my bit in other ways too. I use the most energy efficient light bulbs, although the only way I can afford to kit out the whole house, and

have spares, is by using cheap UK internal flights rather than expensive trains. Okay, so I have to drive to the airport as well, but the café there sells organic coffee so I’m really supporting the planet in two ways at once. I opt for organic food wherever possible and I go for minimal packaging. Like the flat-packed mange-tout flown in from Kenya and the still-tobe-ripened apples from New Zealand. Of course, I’d eat more British organic apples if they grew when I actually wanted to eat them. So much for global warming extending our summers. I run a two-seater sports car, to discourage other people from travelling by road – in my car. And I always put my foot down to minimise the time spent pumping out exhaust gases. Obviously, I’m tempted to put a wind turbine on my roof, but apparently it’s a 25-year payback and it earns me less putting electricity back into the national grid than I pay per unit to use it, which is a bit of a swizz. I’d buy an inverter to use my own electricity off the vine, but I’m not sure the throughput from the turbine could power my dishwasher and Jacuzzi. All in all though, I feel like I’m doing my bit. So, as I raise a glass of organic Australian Merlot, I feel confident that my lifestyle choices will inspire others. Oh yes, nearly forgot – I know the Scouts appreciate my stamp donations, saved from the hate mail that keeps coming my way.

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Julian Biggs Plumbing Advert:Layout 1 07/12/2012 15

JulianBiggs Plumbing& Heating

DRIFTWOOD JOINERY LTD Specialists in Bespoke Joinery

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A Canine Conundrum

by Derek Thompson

Sometimes empty nest syndrome strikes. We miss that joyful chaos in the mornings and may even yearn for the pitter-patter of tiny feet. Why not opt for tiny pads? We’ve had a 7000 year-old best friendship and here’s what you need to know... The best part about having a pet dog - An easy friend to get presents for: a stick, an old bone, or the ball that’s been stuck in the drawer for two months. - Someone to blame for unexpected wind. “Ooh, bad doggie...” - A portable, 24-hour waste disposal unit recycling on the go. - A loyal friend who never reveals your secrets, including the Sunday ‘walk’ to the pub for an hour. - They’ll keep you fit - chasing after them. - No more cat poo in the garden. - Always pleased to see you no matter how indifferent, irate or drunk you are.

The worst part about having a pet dog - What goes in must come out, usually in front of strangers when the last poo bag is ripped. - Doors and furniture, unlike the backs of ears, do not need to be scratched. - Doggie breath, when you least expect it. - The, ahem, cleaning routine. Now you know why your mum never let a dog lick your face when you were young. - Dog poos in the garden are bigger than next door’s cat poos used to be. - As it never speaks, your dog may appear smarter than you are.

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Class i fi e d s Art Classes

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Classifieds Handyman

Entertainers

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Classifieds Property Improvements

Plastering Services

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3/12/12 11:45:18

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