Issue 104
Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
Raising awareness to find things locally of what’s on & where'Wurzel and Aunt Sally' joint entry by neighbours Janet Huntleigh-Smith and Chris Litcheld
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of On Our Doorstep. Unbelievable how fast those years have flown by but still as grateful as ever for all your support and involvement.
May was a very busy month and although the weather hasn't been quite as bright and sunny as we may have hoped by now, it certainly brightened up for Balodocks Big Lunch, as it took over the High Street for it’s annual feast. Always lovely to see so many local faces coming out to enjoy some sun and tasty food from this years vendors.
This months gallery page is packed full with snaps from the Big Lunch and other local celebrations that took place over the coronation weekend.
Exam season has kicked off for students and we'd like to wish everyone the best of luck (parents included, the revision support is no joke)! Our youngest has just finished her first year A level exams and is now focussed on studying for her driving theory test, as she turns 17 this month.
As the weather starts finally warming up, we're all looking forward to some time in the sun. If you're taking some time off this summer and you're looking for a good read to enjoy, we now have a monthly book review feature from Jenny Wiltshire. We're really excited to add this to our monthly features and we're looking forward to checking out their recommendations.
Father's Day falls on 18th June this year and is fast approaching! And if you are lucky enough to still have your dad with you don't forget to treat your old boy to something nice.
Big thank you to Tara Geere for spending her Sunday doing ‘Challenge Anneka’ for us, running around knocking on neighbours doors to get us this months front cover.
Once again, thank you for your support, we couldn't have done it without you. Happy reading!
Herts Hearing offer an independent audiology service that priori ses service with a personable touch. Following 16 years in the NHS, Catherine founded the company in 2019 providing hearing assessments, hearing aids, wax removal and custom ear plugs to help her pa ents to hear and engage be er with the world around them. She is an Audiological Scien st qualified to masters degree level and is a registered Hearing Aid Dispenser.
Catherine provides a bespoke service, ge ng to know her pa ents, their personal requirements and always gives the me they need. Herts Hearing have a clinic based in Codicote and offer home visits for pa ents who are unable to a end the clinic.
Treatment of hearing loss is extremely important for improving communica on and maintaining social connec ons with friends and family. Proven links between hearing loss and demen a suggest that the provision of hearing aids can reduce the impact on the brain
with be er communica on, reduced listening fa gue and poten al slowing of cogni ve decline.
Hearing aid technology has advanced hugely over the past few years and Catherine can provide top level technology hearing aids from a range of manufacturers (Phonak, O con, Starkey and Widex). Modern hearing aids are rechargeable and allow easier use of mobile phones and the rediscovery of music.
‘This lady goes above and beyond to help her clients. We cannot recommend her highly enough for a friendly, reliable, professional service that made us feel safe with her knowledge and level of a ercare.' Dennis, Stevenage
If you have difficul es with your hearing, please contact Catherine to arrange an appointment.
Tel: 07495 655084
Email: catherine@hertshearing.co.uk www.hertshearing.co.uk
Swimmers will be able to keep swimming for almost an addi onal three weeks at Letchworth's popular outdoor pool, following a pe on that showed overwhelming support for extending the season.
It is scheduled to open on 28 May and the extension will mean that rather than closing on 11 September, it will remain open un l 30 September this year.
Local campaigner, Sue Foster, presented her pe on with over 1370 signatures to North Herts Councillors at a Full Council mee ng on 20 Jan and worked closely with officers to agree on plans for the 2022 season.
The three week extension is being trialed at Letchworth ini ally this year, with usage being closely monitored so they can evaluate its success.
Tendoni s is an inflamma on or irrita on of a tendon, which is the connec ve ssue (so ssue) which connects your muscles to your bones. Anyone can get tendoni s; it can occur from sudden sharp movements or repe ve ac vi es and can o en be work related or occur from sports, gardening or other ac vi es.
Areas suscep ble to tendoni s are the base of the thumb, elbow (tennis or golfers' elbow), shoulder, hip, knee and ankle (Achilles tendoni s). Symptoms can include swelling, heat and redness around the site and pain on movement. Tendoni s can be acute (short term) or
chronic (long term) and can vary in severity, so can take weeks or months to get be er, depending on the severity.
The first course of treatment for tendoni s is avoiding the ac vi es that are aggrava ng the affected area. Then res ng, icing the area and taking an inflammatories. If the pain does not improve with rest and ice, it is best to get further assessment and/or treatment. If le untreated it can lead to other aches and pains developing, as your body compensates for the injury to promote recovery. Visit your GP, consider some hands on therapy such
as Osteopathy, and pain relief injec on or Shockwave Therapy.
How can Amber Health help?
We have a team of Osteopaths who can help with your recovery from tendoni s by reducing the inflamma on, reducing the tension in the tendon and improving the range of mo on. An Osteopath will also be able to give you advice on what to do at home which may include hydrotherapy and/or exercises and just as importantwhat movements to avoid for the me being.
healing process in the so ssue, Tom one of our Osteopaths is trained in Shockwave Therapy. This the applica on of high energy sound waves to the affected area. It can help with the recovery of tendoni s by s mula ng the reducing inflamma on and de-sensi sing nerves which can act as a painkiller. Tom has had good results trea ng Plantar Fascii s –a painful foot condi on with Shockwave Therapy.
If you are experiencing ongoing persistent pain, do give the clinic a call on 01462 490141 to book in with one of our team.
The Amber Health Team
A team dropped out of The Girls Wix County Football tournament, so with just 16 hours no ce, we offered to fill the space to prevent the event schedule being jeopardised. The host, Nick, was thrilled we'd saved the day and couldn't wait to see St Marys again!
We joined 7 other teams from across the county and played 3 games in Group A, winning the first two games 2-0. A draw in the third game would mean a place in the final…..
St Mary's went 1 nil down in the first half to a well taken goal. Just one goal would do it, just one.
St Mary's, despite their efforts, just couldn't break down a strong defence. The game finished 1-0.
Our girls missed out on a place in the county final on goal difference. In fact, just two goals.
The team who went on to become County Champions were, infact, the team we beat 2-0 in the first match!
We shouldn't have been in this compe on yet we almost came away with a medal.
Very well played girls. Once again you make our school proud.
In other sports, our year 4 mixed Tennis team played some magnificent tennis, bea ng 5 of the 6 schools they played to finish in 3rd place out of 12 schools. Our year 6's also had a golf event at the pres gious Letchworth Golf Club. A er some fantas c teamwork and amazing scoring, we finished in our highest ever posi on at this event, coming away with 3rd and 4th place out of 9.
We've had plenty of football matches over the last month for both our boys and girls. The one that stood out was the debut of 16 of our year 4 boys heading over to Lordship for their first experience of football for St Marys. Needless to say they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, bagging lots of goals and victories.
We have plenty more events over the Summer to look forward to. Bring on the sunshine.
Sco Hagland - PE Coordinator
You may have no ced a large building site being developed on the side of Tapp's garden Centre. This will house a much-needed restaurant extension to the tearoom along with more garden centre sales.
A tea garden is being planted, so you will be able to sit outside.
You will also no ce a new management team in the tearoom headed by Gary Sco , Chef / manager and Dom Smith is looking a er the drinks (Barista) and front of house.
Simon is undertaking the kitchen porters and all other jobs.
Olivia is s ll here and oversees the baking and cooking, so don't worry the range of cakes will be as good as ever, The new building will be going up over the next few months and will be open mid to late summer if all goes well.
Other plans are in hand for later, more informa on on that as we progress, watch this space.
When McLaren arrived back on the automo ve scene in 2011, it did so with great aplomb with the MP4-12C, later known just as the 12C.
The evolu on of that car into the 650S and then the 720S has paved the way for the latest rendi on: the GT.
It isn't necessarily a natural long-term successor to the 12C, though, as the name implies, this is a Grand Tourer – a first for McLaren.
In theory, that should mean it's easier to live with day-to-day, capable of racking up the motorway miles in a trans-European dash.
Whether that's achieved in prac ce might be ques onable, though, as McLaren is a pure racing brand and, therefore, drivability remains its priority.
The GT looks gorgeous, as supercars do, albeit not as crazy as the 650S or 720S, and it's powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 620PS.
Based on the 720S' pla orm, it accommodates more brand-new parts than those carried over from its predecessor. It also u lises more carbon fibre, which makes its housings smaller, resul ng in more usable space in the luggage department.
In fact, despite being mid-engined, it offers a 420-litre boot as well as 150 litres of storage underneath the bonnet – in total, matching the Mazda CX-60 SUV.
Three trims are offered – Standard, Pioneer and Luxe – although they are all priced iden cally, with the Standard housing Nappa Leather, the Pioneer coming with Alcantara heated seats with electric memory adjustment, and the Luxe offering the same as the Pioneer but with So grain Aniline leather and a lighter colour scheme.
There are addi onal prac cality op ons, too, with packs offering parking sensors, a rear-view camera, a Bowers and Wilkins premium sound system and a powered tailgate, amongst others –and these are at no addi onal cost.
The McLaren is no ceably lighter to drive than most GT cars. Indeed, it beats the Bentley Con nental GT by nearly three-quarters of a tonne, making it all the more agile.
The steering is right on point, weigh ng up perfectly to offer the precision you need to tackle bends quickly, and, in this regard, it's among the best in its class.
It can cruise along slowly just fine, but when you're hungry to get up to speed, it wastes no me at all, dealing with 062mph in a staggering 3.2-seconds and topping out at 203mph – and it's raucous when it gets going.
Admi edly, although the suspension has been fi ed with so er springs, the ride is s ll firmer than in most Grand Tourers.
Whether you could achieve a GT car's true purpose – managing a 500-mile journey across Europe without losing the feeling in your legs – remains to be seen.
That said, the suspension is s ll welldamped, considering its enthusias c characteris cs. Meanwhile, the ability to raise the nose over speedbumps and the luxurious touches in the cabin certainly make it easier to live with than any other McLaren.
The McLaren GT is a lovely car to drive – and it's just a smidgeon less ferocious than the manufacturer's other cars.
But really, it's a halfway house, as it's far less forgiving than the likes of a bulky Bentley Con nental GT.
On the other hand, this is a McLaren, so we shouldn't be expec ng anything else. However, it certainly blurs the lines between racer-supercar and Grand Tourer.
At least it means you can thunder across the con nent and power slide around the twisty backroads of the French Riviera with a warm backside.
And you've got the sa sfac on that your golf clubs can come along, too.
McLaren GT
Ÿ Max speed: 203 mph
Ÿ 0-62 mph: 3.2 secs
Ÿ Fuel economy: 23.7 mpg (WLTP)
Ÿ Engine layout: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Ÿ Max. power (PS): 620
Ÿ CO2: 270 g/km
Ÿ Price: £165,230
Too much choice out there? Spend more time deciding what to watch than actually watching something?
As a Peep Show aficionado, you wouldn't have had me believe that Jesse Armstrong, the creator of Mark and Jez and their hapless lives, would be at the heart of this cri cally acclaimed drama/comedy focussed on an examina on of the ultra-wealthy and their media empires. In crea ng Logan Roy, a Rupert Murdoch-esque tyrant of the mul media waves, Armstrong has delivered for 5 years now easily the best thing on TV. Logan Roy, played by the wonderful Brian Cox (no, not the science loving one) epitomises detestable ultra-high net worth circles that are only fixated on global dominance at all costs. With his 3 equally detestable children, son in law and nephew, the viewer is le despising and gra fying them in equal measure. The key thread through all 4 seasons is which of his children will succeed him when Logan Roy steps down from his empire. With Machiavellian manoeuvres, knives in the back, hilarious dialogue and genuine tension you must get stuck into this uniquely placed bit of TV. Just be glad you don't need private jets, on hand chefs and personal assistants everywhere you go
A Lost, Lord of the Flies, Scream mash up is the best way that I can describe this teen-based survival drama which originally aired on Sky but season 2 has now moved to the Paramount streamer (where both seasons now sit). A high school girls football team (The Yellowjackets) , flying to a football tournament in the US in the 1990's, crashes in the wilderness. What ensues next is a me stamp shi ing drama of mystery and intrigue. The first meline follows the girls and their male coaches in the days a er the plane crash. The second meline follows the survivors as adults, decades later, dealing with the trauma of the crash and their survival. It soon becomes clear they were not found quickly and the show alludes to some desperate measures being taken by them to survive. The 10-part series, created by the Narcos alumni Bart Nickerson and Ashley Lyle, doesn't shy away from some exploring themes of tribalism, faith and survival at all costs –some mes gratuitously. Season 2 is out now.
Thank you to all the people that have recommended me as their personal estate agent in Baldock. I love working here and the town has always held a special place in my heart, it's just great!!
With 20 years experience selling homes locally
Demen a and Alzheimers are issues related to the brain. Demen a is the loss of cogni ve func oning (e.g. thinking, remembering and reasoning) to a point that interferes with the individuals daily life and ac vi es.
Alzheimers is the most common form of demen a. With Alzheimers, abnormal structures appear in the brain, which disrupt how the nerve cells work and may eventually cause those cells to shut down.
Other forms of demen a include vascular demen a, where nerve cells die due to a lack of oxygen such as a er a stroke or disease, or other abnormal
changes in the brain, including Lewy bodies or frontotemporal demen a. There are around one million people living with demen a in the UK. Demen a can affect old and young people, but the risk increases with age. More than 30% of people over 80 will get demen a. How can Hypnotherapy help Demen a?
To look at how hypnotherapy can help with demen a, we need to look at primary and secondary symptoms. People with demen a may forget who people are, or where they are. These are primary symptoms.
As a result of those primary symptoms, the person may also feel lost, stressed,
confused, anxious, fear and worry.These are secondary symptoms
Secondary symptoms may exacerbate the primary symptoms. For example, you may have no ced the more distressed a person with demen a gets, the harder they find it to think.
But this happens with everyone. When we get stressed, our inner security guard takes control. Hypnotherapy for demen a is to help with those secondary symptoms by reducing stress and anxiety can help make life easier.
According to researchers at the University of Liverpool, hypnosis can slow down the impacts of demen a and improve the quality of life of Alzheimer's pa ents. Hypnotherapy for Alzheimer's memory care is some mes effec ve in recalling certain memories and retaining short-term memories.
Forensic psychologist, Dr Simon Duff, inves gated the effects of hypnosis on people living with demen a and compared the treatment to mainstream healthcare methods. He also looked at how hypnosis compared to a type of group therapy in which par cipants were encouraged to discuss news and current affairs.
They found that people living with demen a who had received hypnosis therapy showed an improvement in concentra on, memory and socialisa on compared to the other two treatment groups. Relaxa on, mo va on and daily living ac vi es also improved with the use of hypnosis.
Dr Duff said: “Over a nine month period of weekly sessions, it became clear that the par cipants a ending the discussion group remained the same throughout. The group who received 'treatment as usual' showed a small decline over the assessment period, yet those having regular hypnosis sessions showed real improvement across all of the areas that we looked at.
“Par cipants who are aware of the onset of demen a may become depressed and anxious at their gradual loss of cogni ve ability and so hypnosis can really help the mind concentrate on posi ve ac vity like socialisa on.”
Further research will now take place to establish whether hypnosis maintains its effects on demen a as the illness progresses.
Dr Dan Nigh ngale, co-author of the research and leading demen a consultant at the Abacus Clinic in Newark, added: “Evidence to date has shown that we can enhance the quality of life for people living with demen a through the correct use of hypnosis.
Kim Holloway www.total-therapy.co.uk
*Tellusali leaboutwhoHuntersare?
Hunters is one of the UK's leading estate agents with branches opera ng across the country. With over 200 branches now open in England and Wales, Hunters not only offer na onal coverage, but local exper se. Our offices are run by independent business owners which means all customers receive a specialised service, bespoke to their local area. Hunters' success largely comes from its number one focus of providing excellent customer service, consistently achieving over 95% customer sa sfac onsignificantlyabovethena onalaverageforourindustry!Hunters Baldock is owned by me, Claire Hazard. We cover residen al Sales,Le ngs,Buy-to-Let,severalotherPropertyServices.
*Tellusabitaboutyourself:
My family and I live in Baldock and have done since 1997. My husband is a skilled carpenter, and we have two wonderful sons who make us proud every day! I have a huge passion for animals, with 2 cats and 2 dogs of my own, but also dedicate me volunteering for a registered dog charity and helping to care for those animals who are less fortunate and assis ng in re-homing them.IjoinedCountryProper esin2001asapart mesecretary. It did not take me long to realise my passion was for Residen al Le ngs. I went on to join the Le ngs Department, then in 2010 an opportunity arose for me to buy into the Country Proper es Franchise business. In 2017, I re-branded Country Proper es Le ngs to Hunters, opened up an office in the High Street in Baldockandhaveneverlookedback!
WhyuseHunters?
We have a strong team of dedicated, trained and knowledgeable staff with over 50 years combined experience, who take pride in delivering high level of customer service, building a rela onship with tenants, landlords and contractors to achieve fantas c results. Our team will guide you through every step of selling or ren ng out your property. We'll answer any queries you have quickly and thoroughly so that you're confident in every decision you make. You'll know exactly what's happening with your sale or let throughout the en re process, from valua on to comple on. Let our experienced agents manage your tenant selec on and rentcollec onprocess,soyoucanletwithease.Weoffertailored packagessuitedtoyourindividualneeds—whetherthat'sasimple tenant-find service or complete property management. With us onthecase,youwon'tneedtoworryanymore!
WhatdoesHuntersoffer?
We offer Residen al Sales and Le ngs, free property valua on (online or in person), advice and support from experienced local agents,afullyManagedSale,tailoredmarke ngpackagesforyour property, flexible le ngs services, financial services, mortgage adviceandsolicitorsadvisewithfreenoobliga onquotes
Canwehelpyou?
If you have a property related ques on in the Herts / Beds area please do not hesitate to contact the Baldock Office. We are here to get you there. We are open 6 days a week: Call 01462 896148. AndspeakwithClaire,Chloe,andMolly
I cannot believe that we are in the middle of the year already. In only twenty days we hit the summer sols ce, a er that we start to lose the light once again. Mother Nature has barely tugged off her wellies, had a pedicure and slipped on her flip flops and here we are, at the halfway point already. It's hard to believe how me just skips away from us when we aren't paying a en on isn't it.
Just a few blinks from New Year and June has arrived in her flouncy summer dress, floa ng about on puffy white clouds, distribu ng sunshine and cheeriness. It was only yesterday that I was bemoaning the cold and trying to find my socks. The pools and play parks a full of children's excited cries. Those few men who are not year-round short wearers dig them out of their drawers and treat all of us ladies to a show of their varicose veins, if we are really lucky girls, he will also accessorise with the customary wooly socks and sandals. I can't wait for that.
June is also the month that we celebrate Na onal Volunteers Week. With this in mind I would like to give a big shout out to all of those who give their me freely and happily to help others. Parents seem to be natural volunteers, whether they like it or not
they always seem to be roped in for something. From walking down to the local pool (do they s ll do that?) to manning a stall at the school fate. There are countless things that just couldn't happen without parents volunteering. Grass roots sport is a prime example of this, I know that if it wasn't for the army of parents helping out on a Sunday at the rugby club, minis and youth rugby just couldn't happen. I would bet the pennies at the bo om of my bag that most other sports clubs that have a kiddy sec on are the same.
Volunteers bring so much to so many people. The warmth of a smile for a person who hasn't seen or talked to anyone for a week, a hot meal and a friendly face to a homeless person, knowledge from someone giving their me at a library or museum. They can give the gi of sight to a person who can no longer read the pages of a book. Holding the hand of a sick or dying person so that they won't be alone. Community gardeners that fill our green spaces with beau ful flowers and grow vegetables for those, like me, who's closest encounter with green fingers is when they paint the kitchen door (huge mistake that was, Forest Green is not a nice colour)
It's a selfless act. The only recompence is just knowing that they have been able to help in some small way to make someone less uncomfortable. It is the gi that keeps on giving, and the only reward needed.
The demand for the services of these wonderful people is high with so many different groups or individuals that need help, it's not all in Hospitals and Hospices. If bed pan cleaning isn't your bag, there are so many other types of jobs to be done. Offer to walk a neighbours dog or do their shopping. If you're good at Tennis or Chess, find out if your local club needs help.
Perhaps this is the week to think about how you might be able to help a li le. Think about what you enjoy doing and if you can find a ny bit of me. Just one hour a week is all it takes to make someone's life worth living, a few hours to ensure that your local football club can offer a healthy alterna ve to the Xbox. A li le bit of your me and all of your talent is all that is needed to get back so much.
So many people ask me what's doing this? as they poke a leaf or a branch in front of me. Mostly I can guess without even looking at it just from the description. The number one culprit these days is Vine weevils; the grubs eat the roots off just about anything, so if you find plants that are looking sick that lift out of the ground with little resistance or have their roots completely eaten off, that will be vine weevil grubs. The adults eat ragged notches from the outside edge of the leaves in a wide range of plants.
For many years we understood that adults laid eggs from early July through to the end of October, but now there seems to be no real season for them, and they are out eating everything. The adults are 7 to 10mm long dark grey to black, with small beige-yellowish spots over them. The grubs are white translucent, light pink C shaped with a creamy brown head; most, if not all, adults are female by parthenogenesis, so only one is needed to develop a new population.
Slugs, I imagine everyone knows about slugs and who didn't play with them as a young child? Chasing the girls with a slug on the end of a long stick was the best fun ever. Did you know that the Ash Black slug is the largest in Great Britain? Fortunately for us here, only found in Dartmore's ancient woodland. It's enormous, measuring up to 20cm long; imagine that in your lettuce patch.
Why you ask am I talking about Vine weevils and slugs together? Well, it has to do with how to get them under control: Modern non-chemical controls now allow us to use natural predators, Nematodes Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita ('Nemaslug'), and for vine weevils Steinernema Kraussei or Heterorhabditis megidis, we use the former of the two. These can be purchased from some garden centres that have special storage but are best from online specialist suppliers that will post them out to you in cold bags for immediate use; they are simply
By Graham Tappmixed as per instructions into fresh water and then via a watering can onto damp soil. The nematodes then search out their prey and kill them; we have had fantastic results and no worries about causing harm to anything else, no problems for pets.
Pigeons are now more significant than ever due to reduced control measures. They are the number one destroyer of brassica crops if not netted over; even then, they have now learned to mob the netting and will land on it in numbers, collapsing it onto the leaves so they can eat the leaves through the mesh. Science has again come to our rescue and has developed a natural substance that repels them; It comes as a spray-on liquid ready mixed ready to use or a concentrate for you to mix and apply as per the enclosed instructions. We use and sell lots, and it's been a great success. The range covers Pigeons, Deer, Rabbits and, some caterpillars, even Lilly Beetles.
A caterpillar that you will have seen the damage from but not realise what was causing it is sawfly. If you are a grower of Gooseberries, you may have had a beautiful in full leaf plant one day and the next stripped bare and only the branches showing; there are nematodes that will control sawflies, but you will have to wait until you see them before applying the nematodes so it's debatable if it's of any use as they will have eaten quite a lot of leaf cover before they die and you may get four generations in a season, you would have to be out in the garden twenty-four hours a day keeping watch. I would recommend a very fine mesh to cover the bushes.
Alium fly, The larvae bore into the stems and bulbs of leeks, onions, chives and garlic. The plants look very poorly and will contract all sorts of diseases as secondary infections and can become a slimy, disgusting mess.
Deeper into your soil, the pests are all there waiting for you to plant something, your carrots may look fantastic from above, but down below
ground, they may be being eaten by carrot flies; carrot flies will hunt around looking for the scent given off by carrots especially those that have been thinned out or damaged. The adult female will lay her eggs on or near the shoulder of the carrot; they hatch, and the larvae start eating what was going to be your show-winning crop. Sometimes you don't even get to see any carrots, as slugs will eat them off as soon as the seed germinates. Many times I've had people telling me that they have had a total seed failure when their neighbours have a full crop, so it may not have been the seed's fault at all. Carrot flies will attack parsnip, parsley celery and celeriac.
Beetroot, you would imagine that beetroot is immune to being eaten by pests, but we would all be wrong; let's start with mice; they love them, and so do squirrels; not only do they eat chunks out like the mice, but they will dig them up and steal them. Cutworms, the larvae of night-flying moths, will eat through the bottom of the root, thus killing the plant. Aphids are a common visitor, causing leaf damage. Red spider mites will attack the leaves, causing them to turn brown and crispy. A beet leaf miner is a small fly whose larvae tunnel inside the leaf, causing irregular blotch shapes.
Potatoes have numerous pests that like to eat them, the usual aphids and something called wireworm, dark yellow beetle larvae that eat their way into the tuba; there is no evidence that you have wireworms until you lift them; the tubers that are affected will have several tiny pinprick holes in them with a black edge and a slightly larger brown circle around that, you may not find evidence of the worm inside. Slugs eat your potatoes, as do mice; one thing we are lucky not to have to worry about are wild boars; they love potatoes and will dig up row after row.
Cheers
As you read this, the 2023 Baldock fes val three weeks is now over. We've had so many fantas c events, spread throughout the town over the threeweek fes val. The commi ee would like to say a huge thank you to all the venues and organisa ons that put-on events and those who donated raffle prizes (SRM security , Black Squirrel Coffee, Bun ngford Brewery, Ruth Smith to name a few). We are also in debt to the volunteer organisers who brought the plans to life, and all the volunteers who put their me and effort into making it another brilliant Fes val.
We'd also like to thank every one of you who bought a cket, bought or donated books (we have raised about £500 for the Garden House Hospice), or came along, and made every event so special. We know we got some comments online and will reflect on them for next year. As you all know Baldock does not have a Town Business Improvement District (BID). A BID like they have in Letchworth and Hitchin is a geographically defined area where businesses come together and agree to invest collec vely in projects and
services which improve their trading environment. Because we have no BID all the events that happen in Baldock (Baldock Beer Fes val, Balstock, Baldock Christmas Fayre etc), are done by volunteers. At the end of last year, we had some of the commi ee re re a er many, many years of service, and this year we are seeing some of our longstanding and incredibly hard-working commi ee members step back to focus on work or other things. Most of the current Fes val commi ee are involved in at least two, some up to 6 other organisa ons/ event commi ees alongside their full- me jobs.. Half the current Fes val commi ee have had at least 7yrs+ me on the commi ee and we would love some new members who may bring new ideas or support us. Therefore, we are asking you to consider joining the fes val commi ee. One of the main areas we are really looking for support in, is IT support (website/ cke ng etc). So if you have a couple of spare hours a month and want to get involved with community events or just want to support as an occasional volunteer who can help set up or help
during events, please let us know via our email info@baldockfes val.org.uk
You will see that the front page of this month's OOD is one of the amazing scarecrows from this year's Scarecrow compe on, a massive well done and thank you to everyone who entered. We know the tradi on of scarecrows in Baldock goes back a long me, with William Hone's account in the Baldock Yearbook of 1832 telling us of the compe on that year. From his descrip on of the Lord and Lady effigies of 1832 we think that William would have approved of the runners up 'Wurzel and Aunt Sally' joint entry by neighbours Janet Huntleigh-Smith and Chris Litchfield. He also would have laughed like many of us at the Felstead
family 'Crocodile Creek entry' that won the scarecrow that made you laugh category. We are also pleased that no one called the police about Les Wiltshire's King and Queen consort on the Balcony (unlike last year's football player escaping the window!!) Well done to Milly (aged 9) and Ava (aged 5) for their Harry Po er on holiday entry. Congratula ons to this year's winner of the most crea ve Scarecrow
Donna Foster with her Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. We think Beatrix Po er would have approved! The planning for next year starts soon, so please get in touch and let's have make the 39th Fes val in 2024 even be er.
The Baldock Fes val Commi ee
Firstly, what is Probate? It is basically the legal right that executors of a Will may need to deal with some aspects of a person's affairs a er they have died. It's really just an A4 sheet of paper with a court stamp on it, naming the executors, and detailing the value of the estate.
Probate isn't always needed, and it can be very scary if an organisa on suddenly tells you that they need site of Probate before they can release funds.
There are only a few circumstances where Probate may be requested/ needed. It will need to be applied for if any Inheritance Tax is due (this must be paid within 6 months of death). Some mes Inheritance Tax is difficult to calculate, and professional help may be needed to work it out.
Banks may ask executors to obtain Probate because the amount they're holding in the deceased's accounts is over their threshold for simply handing it over to the executor (unhelpfully, all banks have different thresholds). Other financial organisa ons such as share registrars or investment/ pension/insurance companies may ask
for Probate to be obtained before they will transfer funds/assets held in the sole name of the deceased.
Probate is always needed where property is held in anything other than joint names. A property can usually be put on the market before Probate is granted, but comple on cannot happen un l the conveyancing solicitors have seen the Grant of Probate (officially a Grant of Representa on but o en called Grant of Probate). Similarly, a property cannot be transferred into the name/s of anyone who has inherited it, un l Probate is held.
To apply for Probate, there are forms which must be completed and submi ed
A common misconcep on is that you can avoid the need for Probate if you make a Will. It is the type/value of assets held that affect whether or not Probate is needed, not the existence of a Will. to the Probate Registry. It is possible for executors to complete the forms without professional help, but some mes this can feel like a very daun ng task, and if that is the case you can seek assistance from a professional. This doesn't mean that you will be asking them to take over all aspects off finalising the estate (unless you would like them to do that) but they will use the informa on you have gathered about assets and debts (including funeral expenses) to apply for Probate in executor name/s so that the aspects that cannot be finalised without it, can then be dealt with by the executors.
If you have any ques ons about Probate, no ma er how silly they may feel, please do get in touch with us at A R K Las ng Powers & Wills (email info@arkpowers.com or call 01438 746977). We offer free ini al advice, and we believe there really is no such thing as a silly ques on! Ac ng as executor of an estate is a very responsible job, and it is very important that everything is done correctly. You will find a lot of informa on about Probate on our website www.arkpowers.com including a handy checklist for executors to use.
Lianne Aquilina is a highly qualied acupuncturist, with over 18 years' experience providing high-quality acupuncture treatment for health and care in the community. Lianne graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Science Degree in Acupuncture and holds Certication in Advanced Acupuncture. Lianne was recently honourably elected as the Executive Council Member of the 4th Board of Speciality Committee of Sub-Health of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies. Lianne is a visiting guest lecturer on health research, fertility care, and coauthor of the textbook Acupuncture for IVF: An integrated approach to treatment management. She obtained a Master of Science in Health Research from the University of York. Lianne is a registrant of the British Acupuncture Council which holds the Professional Standards Authority Quality Mark. Lianne is also member of the British Medical Society for Acupuncture.
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommends acupuncture for the treatment management of migraine and chronic pain. High quality research from the National Institute for Health Research established that acupuncture works for musculoskeletal conditions, knee arthritis, and chronic headache. A high quality randomised controlled trial of acupuncture and counselling for patients presenting with depression after having consulted their general practitioner in primary care found that both interventions were associated with signicantly reduced depression at 3 months when compared to usual care alone. Acupuncture is a treatment choice and option. If you would like to learn more about acupuncture, please visit www.aquiliaacupuncture.com
“Around the world, people wake up, check the news, open the front door. On every doorstep is a box, inside the box is the exact number of years that person has le to live.” Inside the box is a string.
With this book having such an intriguing premise I was very much looking forward to reading this story. And it did not disappoint! The chapters are short, and the book is amazingly fast due to this and its compelling story. The book spans the length of a year in our character's lives, what they will change, and will they survive?
Everyone around the world on or over the age of 22 receives a small wooden box containing a piece of string. This string's length determines the years they have le to live. If it's your 22nd birthday, you receive a box. If you are camping, the box will be outside your
tent, if you are homeless, you will wake to find the box next to your head. The world and its countries are thrown into disarray, scien sts and analysts are trying to figure out how long the string is compared to the length of life le . Everyone has ques ons. In the beginning, we see the effect the strings have on its recipients, some become reckless when finding out they are “long stringers” and the “short stringers” come to terms with their me le alive. Some hide their box, never knowing its contents. What affect will it have on the governments, the armies, and those closest to you?
Would you open your box? Well, perhaps not – I personally wouldn't, but I hope you will open this book. Now available in paperback, read this debut novel from Nikki Erlick to find out.
Baldock and Clothall WI celebrated the King's Corona on with an a ernoon tea which was held for its members prior to its Annual General Mee ng. Members wore crowns and aras enjoying sandwiches, wraps, pastries and cakes before the business mee ng. There was a compe on for the best crown. Members vote with small denomina on coins for the crown they prefer, and the winner is the entry with the most coins.
We also had a market stall at the Baldock Fair and made an impressive sum a er costs of £380. A lot of that money will be donated to chari es. Our main charity for the forthcoming year is the Garden House Hospice so a percentage of the annual fundraising will be going to them.
We meet at 7.30 pm on the second Thursday of the month at the URC in Whitehorse Street.
With the weather ge ng warmer, those evening meals in the garden are becoming more frequent and if you're like me, the BBQ has been used a few mes already. Being a chef that cooks with the seasons, asparagus is an absolute must to cook with right now and at the me of going to press we only have another 3 weeks of it un l it comes to an end! The key to this recipe is good quality chicken and brining it before cooking. Brining is basically submerging the chicken in a seasoned salt solu on to help tenderise the meat, give it addi onal flavour and keep it moist & succulent a er cooking. This can all be done on the BBQ. Chicken must be cooked thoroughly but don't be tempted to overcook it. To be sure, use a temperature probe and take the chicken off the BBQ once it reaches a core temperature of 75℃
Feeds a family of 4.
¬ 400ml water
¬ 400G rock salt
¬ 100G granulated sugar
¬ 1 tsp coriander seeds
¬ 1 tsp fennel seeds
¬ 1 bay leaf
¬ Zest of 2 lemons (keep the lemons for juicing later)
¬ 50g flat leaf parsley stalks (keep the leaves for the gremolata)
¬ 1 red chilli split lengthways (op onal)
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer un l all the salt & sugar has dissolved. Take off the heat and add 10 ice cubes to cool the brine down quicker. Once at room temperature pour the brine into a 4-litre container with an air ght lid.
Add 4 corn-fed chicken breasts (skin on or bone in is op onal depending on your preference) to the brine and pop in the fridge for at least 4 hours. Overnight would be best.
« 200ml olive oil (NOT extra virgin as it will burn on the BBQ)
« the juice of the 2 lemons that you zested earlier
« 1 tsp of paprika
« 1/2 tsp of ground cumin
« 1 tsp of dried mixed herbs
« 1 tsp of garlic powder
« 1/2 tsp of chilli powder (op onal)
Mix all the ingredients well. Pour half of the marinade into a bowl and keep to one side to baste the chicken with whilst cooking. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with a paper towel. Put the remaining marinade in a bowl along with the chicken and coat each chicken breast liberally with the marinade. Pop the chicken back in the fridge un l you're ready to cook.
Flat leaf parsley (that you removed from the stalks earlier)
« Finely zest 2 lemons
« Finely grated clove of garlic
Finely chop the parsley & lay it out on a tray for 30 minutes to dry. Do the same with the lemon zest & garlic to avoid them clumping together when you mix it together. Once dry, mix together in a bowl and pop in the fridge un l ready to use.
« 500g English asparagus
Snap off the stalks and toss in a bowl with 100ml of olive oil and a generous pinch of sea salt.
Once the BBQ is ready to cook on lay your chicken on the hot grill first. Avoid placing them directly over the heat as it will burn. Instead, we're looking for a beau ful smokey char on the chicken.
A er approximately 10 minutes (depending on your BBQ) baste the chicken with the marinade you reserved back earlier then turn the chicken over. Baste the other side. Now add your asparagus onto the grill. Keep turning your asparagus every 90 seconds to avoid it burning. A er another 6 minutes, your asparagus should be cooked yet s ll with a pleasant crunch to them. Remove them from the BBQ. Probe your chicken to see if it has reached the required core temperature of 75℃ Once cooked, remove them from the grill and allow them to rest for at least 5 minutes. Pour any remaining marinade you have over the chicken and asparagus whilst they are res ng.
To serve allow 125g of asparagus per serving. Slice your chicken breast in half and place it alongside the asparagus. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil and the juice of the zested lemon from the gremolata. You shouldn't need any addi onal salt as you have already brined the chicken. Sprinkle over the gremolata and enjoy with a chilled glass of Picpoul! You could also add sliced radishes, bu ered new potatoes or some steamed rice if you wish.
If you're not a fan of the BBQ, this could all be done in the kitchen. Cook your chicken in the oven for 18 - 20 minutes at 190℃ Steam or boil your asparagus for 3 to 4 minutes and serve immediately.
Hope you enjoy it.
Chef Kish from Eight.
‘WE GUARANTEE TO BEAT* your existing home insurance renewal quote in the SG postcode.’
For most people their home is the biggest investment they will ever make and the things they keep in it are their most prized possessions.
As your local broker our role is to select the policy most suited to your individual needs. Ensuring peace of mind for our customers is at the heart of what we do.
To make sure your most treasured possessions are properly covered contact the Emperor of insurance.
07860 950 957
Abandoned on the mean city streets by his lowlife owner, Doug, a naive but lovable dog named Reggie falls in with a fast-talking, foul-mouthed BostonTerrier and his gang of strays. Determined to seek revenge, Reggie and his new canine pals embark on an epic adventure to get him home and make Doug pay for his dirty deed.
Tyler Rake is back, and his team is ready to take on their next mission. Tasked with extracting a family who are at the mercy of a Georgian gangster.Tyler infiltrates one of the world's deadliest prisons in order to save them. But when the extraction gets hot, and the gangster dies in the heat of battle, his equally ruthless brother tracks down Rake and his team to Sydney, in order to get revenge.
Maddie, a young woman working as an Uber driver who is facing bankruptcy after her car is repossessed, accepts an unusual Craigslist posting. Her new employers are parents who have noticed that their socially clueless teenaged son is not interested in human interactions. In exchange for a car, she agrees to become their son's "girlfriend".
16 Hurst Close Baldock, SG76TL 16 Hurst Close Baldock, SG76TL 16 Baldock, 18
The Harrison Ford returns as the legendary hero archaeologist in the highly anticipated fifth installment of the “Indiana Jones” franchise. He has to race against time to retrieve a legendary dial that can change the course of history.Accompanied by his goddaughter, he soon finds himself squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA.
‘For all your alterations, repairs and 1:1 sewing classes please phone/text to book
‘From August 2021 we are shutting the doors in Mansfield Road and will be working from 16 Hurst Close, Baldock SG7 6TL Appointments only’
Please call 07938509672 for more details and to book www.sewingbs.co.uk
Please
Would you like to receive weekly recordings of local news stories and na onal magazines? Stevenage and North Herts Talking News (SNHTN) are here to help. We cover Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston, Sto old, Arlesey and surrounding villages. Ar cles read are taken from the local Comet and Royston Crow newspapers. This is a completely free service run en rely by volunteers for those with impaired vision, sight loss, or any physical condi on which prevents the reading of a newspaper, to help keep up to date with what's going on in the local area. Na onal magazines are also downloaded from the RNIB together with other interes ng and useful ar cles. Each week you will receive through the post a memory s ck containing the recordings selected, read by our volunteer readers. You will be able to listen by inser ng the memory s ck into a player, which we can lend you and which is very
easy to use. One of our volunteers will bring the player to your home and explain how it works. You may like to have a friend or rela ve with you on this occasion so that they too can learn how to use it. When you have finished listening to the memory s ck at your leisure for that week, you simply post it back to us in the plas c wallet provided with the return address already printed on it – no postage costs involved – so that we can use it again.
Many of our listeners find that by using this service they feel less isolated and more involved and look forward to receiving their Talking News each week and hearing the regular friendly voices of our readers. Our readers enjoy reading to you and you will get to know them week by week.
If this is something that you think would interest you please do contact us. Our dedicated telephone number is 07856 736108 and our email address is info@snhtalkingnews.co.uk
We also have a website with more informa on and a sample recording for you to listen to, www.snhtalkingnews.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
For anyone one who missed the Baldock Classic Car Show that’s normally on the High Street, on the last weekend of the Baldock fes val. There’s a classic car gathering in the lovely rural se ng of Fairclough Hall farm in Halls Green. The emphasis is on picnicking. There will be teas, coffees and cakes available at several stalls, plus other a rac ons.
Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green nr Weston lgccvcc.co.uk
The Creality Halot One is a stellar addi on to the world of resin 3D printers, bringing with it some noteworthy upgrades and improvements over previous models. A er several hours of usage and tes ng, I can affirm that this printer stands out in both performance and func onality.
Let's start with its build and design. The Halot One exudes a sense of durability with its sturdy construc on. The machine's compact and clean design ensures that it doesn't consume excessive space on your workbench while s ll delivering high-quality prints. It's refreshing to see a printer that manages to balance both aesthe cs and func onality.
A standout feature of the Halot One is its all-new integral light source. The uniform light projec on ensures that each layer of your print is consistently cured, reducing print failures and increasing the quality of the final product. The light source reduces the exposure me significantly, meaning you can print models faster without compromising the details. In terms of user interface, the Halot One sports a 5-inch colour touchscreen which is both responsive and intui ve to navigate. The GUI offers real- me monitoring, facilita ng a seamless
prin ng experience. You can easily tweak print se ngs, observe the prin ng progress, and troubleshoot any poten al issues. It's clear that Creality has gone the extra mile to make the user experience as seamless as possible
This printer also stands out in terms of connec vity. Apart from the standard USB op on, it offers Wi-Fi connec vity. This feature, combined with the Halot-Box App, allows you to remotely control the printer, making it incredibly convenient. You can prepare, start, and monitor your prints from anywhere in your home or office.
Let's not forget about the integral vat, which means less exposure to the resin. This design choice is a definite win for those of us who prefer less contact with the resin.
One point where the Halot One could improve is the documenta on. While the device itself is quite intui ve, beginners might find the set-up and troubleshoo ng a bit challenging due to the sparse instruc on manual. In terms of print quality, the Halot One excels. The precision of the prints is impressive, producing clean edges and intricate details. The improved light source undoubtedly plays a significant role in this quality allowing for extremely high defini on print quality.
The Creality Halot One resin 3D printer is an excellent choice for both beginners and professionals. It combines a user-friendly interface with high-quality performance, leading to a sa sfying prin ng experience. While the documenta on could use some improvement, the printer's build quality, smart features, and print precision more than make up for it. This printer is definitely a worthwhile investment for anyone in the 3D prin ng realm.Currently available from creality.com at 50% discount, it's a bit of a no brainer. See you soon
We’ve had an urge to try a camper van holiday for some me. I’m not sure if it was the idea of freedom to drive and stay where you want or watching Robert DeNiro in ‘Meet the Fockers’. But lets face it, if you are going to take the plunge, it has to be in a Volkswagen camper van, which is THE iconic camper van.
We hired Volkswagen California Ocean, which is VW’s top of the range factory built camper (not a conversion). From the outside it could be mistaken for a standard short wheel base VW Transporter, but inside it is one of the most clever, well thought-out designs we’d ever seen.
We set off on a Friday evening and took to the road, travelling to Wells-nextthe-Sea in north Norfolk.
We’d pre-booked a pitch at Pinewoods Holiday Park a few days earlier following a recommenda on from the hire company. As its just over two hours from where we live it was a good test for our first adventure. Pinewoods itself is a great site with really good toilet & shower facili es and the loca on is second to none. Just a short walk through the forest and you step onto the beau ful white sand beach. Top p for anyone visi ng Wells, the town is home to the best fish and chip shop in Norfolk, Frenchies. Definitely worth a place on your hit list!
The two hour drive flew by and felt more like minutes as the camper drove so smoothly, it hardly felt like a van at all, more like a large high end car. The automa c transmission makes it a dream to drive and you have all the creature comforts like sat nav, reversing camera, parking sensors, assisted braking and too many more to list.
The Volkswagen California Ocean makes incredible use of available space, providing its user with everything they could want in a campervan without sacrificing space, comfort or style. There’s a built in double ring gas stove, refrigerator, sink, a small wardrobe and lots of cupboard space. We were advised to pack our belongings into the van
rather than live out of bags dura on of our trip, which makes perfect sense and transforms your van into a hotel on wheels.
Both front seats can be fully spun around to face the rear seats and the li up table slides out to create a comfortable group dining space. A family of four can comfortably sit and eat together or play a game of cards etc.
The camper has wind out/retractable awning on the side, which is ideal for crea ng shade on these warm, bright days and extends your living space beyond the van. An interior panel in the sliding side door pops out revealing a sturdy portable table and unzipping a compartment tucked into the tailgate exposes two fold out picnic chairs. Another example of VWs ingenious design and use of space.
The water for the sink is supplied by a water tank that is topped up externally via a lockable cap at the rear of the vehicle. We topped up before we le home and s ll had plenty le when we returned days later.
There’s also a 240v socket on the side on the van, allowing you to use devices that have a 3 pin plug (as long as your pitch has an electric hook up point). The internal ligh ng, USB sockets and fridge are all 12v and run of the vans built in leisure ba ery.
For campers who prefer to venture out in cooler weather, you can turn on the auxiliary domes c hea ng to keep you cosy all night long. In the summer months the extremely effec ve air con can be used in the rear living area, the driving cab, or both.
The electric pop up roof is easily my favourite feature of the Ocean model of the camper van. A couple of clicks of a bu on and less than 30 seconds totally change the van space. During the day you can raise the roof and li the internal ceiling to create a tonne of head space allowing you to fully stand inside the van. As the night draws in you can lower the internal ceiling and climb up inside the roof where you’ll find a comfy double ma ress. Downstairs there’s a small loop on the rear seats and when
pulled the seats lower and lay flat turning the rear of the van into a second double bed.
The space can comfortably sleep 4 (although we wouldn’t recommend 4 adults) however as this was a test trip for us, we tried all op ons. Sleeping both up, both down, one up and one down and we both managed to get a great night's sleep each night. Three fly-mesh window flaps with zippers are present in the sleeping area within the roof. These let in fresh air while keeping the bi ng things out.
Along with the large and comfortable living area, there is also a tonne of luggage capacity.
You might be thinking that with all of this func onality and a total weight of around 3 tonnes, it would operate a li le slowly, but just the opposite is true. When driving, there was no ra ling or clanking, it was quiet and smooth with plenty of power beneath the pedals. The VW Ocean has excellent design throughout, and everything fits together seamlessly. With a very high driving posi on, it's also surprisingly simple to operate. Their fantas c 7-speed DSG gearbox greatly reduced the stress of driving in towns.
Although it costs a li le more than a Caravelle, you aren't purchasing a van; you are purchasing an en rely new way of life. Our eyes have been truly opened to a world of possibili es. If you don’t fancy the commitment of buying one we would highly recommend hiring a VW California Ocean for your first adventure and finding out what you’re missing. Home really is where you park it and it’s safe to say we’re hooked.
June lived right next door to May, a poorer relation some might say, three bank holidays and a coronation, made May more important by explanation. But June's generous sunshine seldom fails to bring out the crowds for our car boot sales!
WE’VE RETURNED FOR OUR 31st SEASON
Advice
Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Trading Standards Advice
Samaritans Councils
North Hertfordshire District
Doctors
Baldock Surgery
Dentist
Victoria Place Dental Surgery
Emergency Utilities
Gas Emergency
Electric power cut
Lister Hospital
Queen Elizabeth 2
EMERGENCY HEALTH
