Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally
Issue 73 November 2020
www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages
Welcome
to the November Issue Lots of changes going on across the country at the moment and while we're still far from 'normal' it's surprising how natural it is to run through the mental checklist of phone, keys, wallet and mask when leaving the house. Movember is back. Mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer – they're taking them all on! With more of us working from home we're hoping guys will go big and grow their mo or join in with the Move for Movember. Show off your Movember attempts and tag us on Facebook, we'd love to feature some of them in next month's gallery page. Baldock's firework display can't go ahead this year due to Covid-19 restrictions but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the fun. Tapps are offering a range of quieter fireworks, that are far more pet friendly, for you to create you own mini display from your garden. Covid certainly won't stop Santa from making his rounds this year, for those of you who are festive fanatics you can find this year's Christmas sleigh route printed on page 23. If that isn’t enough Christmas action for you Oakley's Farm are now taking pre-orders for their farm fresh turkeys, ready for your perfect Christmas dinner. When it comes to gifting this year please remember to think local. All of the amazing small businesses that sprung up during lockdown and the incredible independent shops
and boutiques we have dotted around throughout the town would be the perfect place to start. In this month's issue we have 5 Minutes with Kayleigh Foster, owner of new boutique Palma & Stone, to tell us a little about her and why she chose Baldock as the base for her business. More exciting news, The Arbury's Lucy and her sister Sam have launched a beautiful new lifestyle and homeware shop. The Pink Ginger Company is located within The Arbury and is definitely worth a visit if you're in the town Until next month stay safe..
Paul & Jacqui
info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk
Jacqui Calver 07973 788418
Disclaimer All adverts and editorial are printed in good faith, however On Our Doorstep Baldock cannot take any responsibility for the content of adverts or services provided by the advertisers. Reproduction on whole or in part of this publication without prior permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited.
NOVEMBER
2020
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LOCAL HEROS Ladies of the Baldock and Clothall Women's Ins tute have been on lockdown for gatherings and ou ngs along with the rest of the UK. However, with all the guidance and recommenda ons from the local authority in place to support us, we were able to organise a few of us to par cipate in the Great Bri sh Clean up on the 27 September. 6 of us spent the morning picking up 13 bags of li er in and around Baldock. We were also joined by the son of one of our members who wanted to support the community on behalf of our local Knights Templar School.
SIGN FOR A GOOD BUILDER Paul Draper who unfortunately passed away last month was a well-known Baldock builder from the seven es to the early part of this century. He specialised in refurbishing old buildings and had a great eye for what could be done to a seemingly wreck of a place.
Maybe his best work was the restora on of an old malt barn behind the High Street in Baldock which he converted into three houses all with beau ful beamed interiors. Since its recrea on it has been known as Drapers Court . His ex labourer and grave digging companion Brian Burke who coincidentally lives beside the barn felt that Paul's work should be remembered
by a sign and plaque at the front of the development especially whilst only son Nigel was s ll here a er flying from America for the funeral . So on Saturday Pauls wife Hilary Nigel and grand daughter Vanessa unveiled the sign with several neighbours in a endance and a glass of champagne in hand. . Hilary said ”Paul was a real one off a laughing joking kind of a guy but a really good builder and I am so pleased that Brian has organised this sign for us “ Brian said “ Paul was a great bloke and a real prac cal joker ... I was usually the vic m ! At least now couriers will know where Drapers Court is and his name will live on in BALDOCK “ Certainly a sign for a good builder .
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Baldock Christmas Fayre 2020
While the Christmas season normally lasts around two months, we are now into the eighth month of the Covid Season 2020; as you may be aware, this has had a devasta ng effect on the Community Events that are normally held in our town. We did manage to hold this year's Baldock Beast in February, but since then community events in Baldock have been in short supply. The Town Fes val, Beer Fes val, Big Lunch, Cycle Challenge, Balstock and Baldock Ball have all been cancelled, along with Street Food Heroes throughout the Summer and a number of other events put on by and for the people of Baldock. We hung on to the hope that at least all this will be ended by the me Christmas comes along and that we would be able to hold a splendiferous Fayre, celebra ng the season with stalls,
songs and mulled wine, culmina ng in the Great Christmas Tree Light Switchon! Unfortunately, although Father Christmas will con nue to visit Baldock's streets (not even Covid can stop him…), we have had to, reluctantly, postpone the Christmas Fayre – un l December 4, 2021. The reasons for this are likely to be well known to many of you; with the numbers that a end (around 5,000 last year), social distancing will be impossible, given the area that we have for the event. The Event Team at the Baldock Event Forum are devasted at this latest blow, but we realise that it would be irresponsible to a empt to organise a Christmas event this year. We would like to emphasise that Baldock Rotary and the Events Forum will be ensuring that the town will be bedecked in lights and we will have a
marvellous Christmas Tree in the town centre. Special thanks go to the heroic team pu ng this together, especially Stuart & Katy Ma hews, Tara Geere, Alistair Willoughby and the members of Baldock Rotary's Christmas Lights Team. We are also thinking of ins ga ng a compe on for the best Christmas themed shop window in Baldock; details are s ll being worked out, but we will let all businesses with shop windows in the town centre know by mid-November exactly what is entailed. In the mean me, let's remember that great Christmas Fayre of 2019 and look forward to an extra special event in 2021! Best wishes, Jim McNally - BEF Chair
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KEEP YOUR PETS ACTIVE IN THE WINTER Joint problems are very common in dogs and cats and can even affect young animals too. If your pet does get joint problems it can significantly affect his or her day to day life. As pets age there is wear and tear in the joints which can drama cally reduce mobility and cause increasing joint pain. Excessive wear and tear can also be caused by inherited condi ons such as hip dysplasia and injuries such as cruciate ligament damage. Another condi on your pets can get is Osteoarthri s which is a progressive disease which affects bone and car lage usually in mid to old aged animals. But also young and growing animals can also suffer from the condi on. Different breeds and sizes of dogs and cats can be affected in different ways.
Some mes joints can become swollen or warm and your pet may bite at irrita ng painful joints. Cats may groom themselves less because they are sore. Fluid pressure within the joint can also increase the pain. That's why both people and animals experience increased joint s ffness and pain in bad weather. It's not the cold or wet, but a drop in atmospheric pressure that allows the joint ssues to swell, causing s ffness and discomfort. There are many different ways to help aid joint mobility in your pets. Exercise management - Dietary manipula on Physiotherapy/hydrotherapy Pharmaceu cals - Joint supplement
Keep Fit with your Pets
NOVEMBER
2020
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Ordo Sonic+ toothbrush Clean your Teeth with Sound at 40,000 pulses per minute
This week, you will be relieved to read that we are leaving Einstein's Photon Theory and Par cle Physics behind and review tradi onal oral hygiene products, but this one uses fluid dynamics and 40,000 sonic pulses a minute to keep your teeth sparkling clean! This week, I have been tes ng the Ordo Sonic+ toothbrush, which cleans the surface of your teeth and also in between them. The Ordo Sonic+ looks like an unassuming electric toothbrush at first glance, but when you look a li le closer, you find a very smarty manufactured device with a fair bit of extra func onality from tradi onal toothbrushes. The Sonic+ comes in three colours schemes; white / silver, rose gold and charcoal grey. Also included in the box is a USB Induc on Charger. This means that no electrical contacts are touching when the brush is charging which is great when using in a bathroom (A full charge should last 3 weeks). Also in the box is an interchangeable head which fits easily onto the toothbrushes body. Ordo's Sonic+ Brush head has a built-in silicone-polishing element designed to help whiten your teeth using a polishing
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ac on. It worked really well as you have a choice of brushing modes to suit your needs. Clean – used for everyday cleaning. White – highest frequency, ideal for removing surface stains. Massage – u lises a pulsa ng ac on for a gentle massage. Sensi ve – uses a reduced power output for sensi ve teeth and gums.
The recommenda on for brushing by Den sts is that we should be doing this at least twice a day for at least two minutes. The Sonic+ helps keep to this regime by pausing every 30 seconds. This allows you to ensure that you clean each of the four quadrants of your mouth. Two minutes in the morning and
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again before bed will have you on your way to having teeth like Rylan Clark, but don't let that put you off! The interes ng angle to this product is the offer of a subscrip on to replacement heads and refills. I think this is a great idea as all too many mes I have ended up stopping using electric toothbrushes when finding a replacement brush-heads becomes too difficult. When you order the Sonic+, you can choose your refill frequency and you will be sent replacements at your chosen me, you can also cancel your subscrip on at any me with no strings a ached. At £55, I think it's great value and the toothbrush itself is high tech, but not crammed with unnecessary features that end up being a faff. The four modes were useful and there is a no ceable change in the sound of the brush when you do select each of them. This is using sonic waves and as such, you can hear your teeth being cleaned. Great value and a brilliant product, available to buy from ordolife.com See you next month, stay safe!
Matt WWW.THEGADGETMAN.ORG.UK
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NOVEMBER
2020
11
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Screen this month’s new releases
AT MIDNIGHT THE MAGNOLIA
PROSPECT
Out 5th Nov
Out 2nd Nov A teenager and her father travel to a remote alien moon aiming to strike it rich, as it holds valuable Aurelac, apparently the most sought after substance in the known galaxy. But there are others roving the wilderness and the job quickly devolves into a fight to survive. Pick up from the planet can only happen once in three cycles of the moon....this is the last run, miss it and they are stranded. On Netflix
Maggie and Jack are childhood family friends and now as adults give dating advice together on their popular local radio show. When they find out their show is being shopped around for national syndication, their boss encourages them to introduce their significant others to their families for a live, on-air New Year’s Eve special. Maggie and Jack agree to the special as long as it’s hosted at the their fathers owned jazz club, The Magnolia. On Netflix
Certificate N/A
Certificate N/A
Running Time 100 mins
Running Time N/A
‘Now open Tuesday to Saturdays 10am - 1pm Bookings now being taken for sewers and bridal alterations. One at a time in the front of the shop for repairs and alterations please.’ Please phone 07938509672 for more details and to book
JINGLE JANGLE
THE 2ND
Out 13th Nov
Out 30th Nov
In the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle's (Forest Whitaker) fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his scheming apprentice steals his most prized creation, it's up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter and a long-forgotten invention - to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within. It looks like it has all the elements needed to become a Christmas classic. On Netflix
Vic Davis, a Green Beret, is running late to pick up his estranged son, Sean, from his college campus when he finds himself in the middle of a highstakes terrorist operation. His son's friend Erin Walton, the daughter of Supreme Court Justice Walton is the target, and this armed gang of terrorists will stop at nothing to kidnap her and use her to force her father hand for a pending landmark legal case. On Netflix
Certificate N/A
Certificate N/A
Running Time 122 mins
www.sewingbs.co.uk
Running Time 93 mins
Answer-phone on both numbers & will return all calls
NOVEMBER
2020
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As you will know chari es have suffered as well in the Covid pandemic, Bri sh Heart Founda on have lost millions, they reopened at the end of July but are in desperate need of good quality stock which includes bric brac, clothes, accessories, books and music and entertainment. As a lot of people are now working from home a lot more, hopefully they would love a free collec on from their home instead of
Happy Birthday
Lots of Love Marly, Alfie-James and Phoebe May 12th November st
HAPPY51 9th BIRTHDAY Happy stBirthday
JOSHUA MEAD
Nick Love mumWoodhall dad and Vicky XX
Lots of Love Sam
20th November
Joshua Mabbitt
Happy 21st birthday
Love Auntie Janet and Uncle Ray 4th November
LET’S MEG COTTERELL
Monday
9th NOVEMBER
P ty Time
Love from Mum, Dad and Joe
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2020
taking it to a charity shop and possibly it ge ng turned away, due to the limit which they can take on one day due to having to store it for 48 hrs now. With our service it gets collected once a week from there house and then is brought altogether in one drop off to our Hitchin shop. If you are having a clear out then please give us a call on 01462 438259, we collect between 11-3 ever Thursday. Thankyou
5 minutes with... ... Kayleigh Foster from *Tell us a bit about yourself. Hi, my name’s Kayleigh and I am the owner of the new bou que in Baldock, Palma & Stone. Originally I’m from Borehamwood but had been living abroad for nearly 8 years before moving back to the UK and se ling in lovely li le Baldock just before lockdown. I have worked in retail for several years and part own another online fashion business in Dubai. I had always dreamed of opening a shop in England and Baldock felt like the perfect fit. *How long have you been open and what made you choose to open now? Ini ally I was looking for an office space to work from but when I stumbled upon this unit I fell in love with the character and Baldock High Street. A er a few weeks of living in Baldock I no ced there really was a gap in the market for a clothes and gi shop, especially as people prefer to stay local with everything going on. We finally received the keys on the 17th July and opened our doors for the very first me on the 14th August. *What is one thing you think customers should know about your store that they may not be aware of? The feedback received from our lovely customers has been amazing. O en people assume that independent shops are expensive but that’s not the case. We’ve had so many compliments from customers about our products
and how reasonably priced the range is. We try to have a li le something for everyone which can be tricky as it’s quite a small space but the feedback so far has been fantas c. *What are some of your best-selling products? It’s really been a good mix of everything so far! Our kids toys have been a big hit so we will definitely be adding more to the collec on as we lead up to Christmas. The selec on of gree ngs cards have sold really well, this was something that we struggled to find in Baldock during the lockdown. In terms of clothing our new Autumn collec on has been super popular especially the jumpers which we’ve already had to restock mul ple mes! *What’s next for Palma & Stone? We are currently working on our Gi Box Collec on, as people won’t be travelling to see family and friends as much this year, we will be making ready to post gi boxes that will be available to order in the shop or buy online. We also can't believe it’s that me of year already so we’re excited to start ge ng fes ve, decora ng the shop and adding all of our new Christmas products to the range. *For anyone that hasn’t seen the shop yet, where can they find you? We are at 7 Hitchin Street and our opening hours are Tuesday - Saturday from 10am - 6pm. We’d love to see you in store soon and show off our fabulous range to more of Baldock’s friendly faces.
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2020
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Adrenaline-Charged Top-Down Luxury New Lexus LC Conver ble
By Tim Barnes-Clay - Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay The Lexus LC Coupe has always looked impressive and elegant all at the same me. With fluid flanks, a low-slung roofline, and razor-sharp lights, it never fails to create a sense of theatre. But now Lexus has stepped the pace up further, by ushering in a brand-new so top version - called, funnily enough, the LC Conver ble. The all-new car shares the LC Coupe's gorgeous design and adrenaline-charged performance while adding the fun associated with wind-in-your-hair motoring. And, as with the hard-topped model, a non-turbocharged unit sits under the hood. This alone makes the LC different. Why? Well, there's a glut of turbocharged cars out there, so a burbly, normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 lump kind of forces you to take no ce. Furthermore, the LC is armed with a ten-speed auto 'box. There are so many gears that you rarely need to ask for more engine power because you can compensate with the precisely assembled collec on of ra os. The muscle and range of cogs help the Conver ble blast to 62mph in 5.0 seconds, and on to a licence-losing top speed of 168mph. The mbre of the V8 pulling in air as the thro le input changes is as gra fying as it is galvanising. 16
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As well as the glorious sound the LC makes, there are other plusses to its atmospherically nourished powerplant and that's thro le feedback. Any weight, however slight, that's added to the accelerator-pedal has an instantaneous influence on forward propulsion. Gearshi s are on the ball and clear-cut, too. The steering-wheel-a ached paddles are pleasingly weighted and lovely to operate. But, if you don't want to experience changing gears by hand, the auto mode does a great job. The LC Conver ble's ride is firm, but there's loads of control, so any sense of inflexibility is worth it. The Lexus' body feels robust, too, with no indica on of agita on from the shell, even over ta y tarmac. The steering is pleasantly light as well, so it's unchallenging to point the LC's snout in the direc on you want it to go.
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Indeed, every aspect of the Japanese-made car, from the feel the chassis provides to the engine and steering, enables you to drive the new model with confidence. If top-down luxury motoring is what you're a er, then the LC Conver ble is a beau ful choice of car. The roof can be lowered or raised in just 15 seconds, and its refinement and kit list, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, make it hassle-free to live with. In its most fundamental form, the model is priced at £90,775. But the £96,625 Sport+ Pack grade is the one to have. It comes with 21-inch wheels, integrated neck heaters and
semi-aniline leather upholstery. Yes, it's a lot of money, but not many drop-tops provide the same level of ela on as well as sophis ca on. The fact that the LC Conver ble also looks good enough to eat makes it impossible to dislike.
Fast Facts LC 500 Conver ble Sport+ Pack - as tested: Ÿ Max speed: 168mph Ÿ 0-62 mph: 5.0 secs Ÿ Combined mpg: 24.1 Ÿ Engine: 4,969cc, normally aspirated V8. Ÿ Max. power (PS): 464 Ÿ CO2: 275g/km Ÿ Price: £96,625
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NOVEMBER
2020
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2020
FREE PASS We all know that exercise is good for our bodies, but what about our minds? It's all too easy to feel that things aren't great at the moment; we are all wai ng for some good news. and looking back at the year so far it's easy to see why people's mental health has taken a knock. From feelings of isola on to anxiety, from helplessness to uncertainty of the future we are all struggling to find the sunshine in our lives and I don't just mean the weather! The good news is that studies show exercise can have a posi ve effect not only physically, but on your metal wellbeing too. It can help with
condi ons such as depression and anxiety. It can help relieve stress, improve memory and boost your overall mood. Add on the fact that our team at Knights will be on hand to offer you personal guidance, encouragement and mo va ng you every step of the way with our 4-step member journey you most certainly won't feel like you are on your own! Now is the me to get ac ve, and with our free pass there has never been a be er me to make yourself a priority. Go to www.sll.co.uk/free-pass and download your pass, we can’t wait to welcome you to Knights Sports Centre! See you soon - Brandie
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2020
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Baldock Gardens By Graham Tapp
Back in the confusing days of what was our summer, within the blur of the Covid restrictions, I wrote about plant diseases coming in from other countries; this has come back to haunt me. On the 19th of October a customer came in to ask for help with a reportable infestation of Aculops fuchsiae ( Fuchsia gall mite ) this is a pest that was imported into Britain by illegal means. Allegedly a private collector had introduced it into the island of Jersey in 2001/02 by importing cuttings in from South America; it has been in England since 2007. Aculops fuchsiae shows its self as twisted, gnarled leaves on the new extension growth. It is this host symptom that indicates that the pest is present; the mites are so small that you are very unlikely to see it with the naked eye. Adult mites are microscopic measuring between 200 and 250um in length and 5560 um in width, (one um equals 1/1000mm), the body is wormlike, pale yellow with two pairs of anterior legs. Symptoms develop very slowly with a distinct reddening of the leaves, particularly the shoot tips. No pesticides are legally available for public use that will give a complete eradication. There are predators known, but with a big proviso, the mites are so small that they can get into the smallest of crevices so small that no predator can access them. They can hide in complete safety, meaning that however many predators you have you will always have a residual infestation, the cost then outweighs the benefits. The RHS recommend that you clip out the growing tips until the pest is eradicated, this will, unfortunately, leave no extension growth, disastrous for plant shape and flower production. The benefits of continuing to grow the plant on are then debatable. Destruction is the best advice; this should be done as soon as the pest is identified and with great care. Do not put the plant on your compost heap or in the dust bin, put the plant into a paper bag, leaving the plastic pot out. The plant pot should be sterilised immediately using a proprietary chemical or
boiling water, the bag containing the plant should be burned. Please do not take any plant you suspect to have Fuchsia gall mite to a garden centre or nursery for identification. For us it is still a notifiable infestation, you as a member of the general public no longer have to report it, but we have to notify FERA the Food and Environment Research Agency. We will be breaking the law if we do not. Enough of doom and gloom, this plant season has worked out very well considering the problems encountered early on, extreme heat and weeks of dry weather and then many weeks of wet weather. It all settled down, eventually giving us a normal end to the summer season. As I write the summer bedding is only just beginning to show signs of decline not due to colder weather but the shorter day length and loss of sunlight. When you do get around to replanting your hanging baskets for this winter, you will find lots of new colours and plants. Innovation in the horticultural industry is not lacking, and even though we had no plant shows this year to display them to you, I can assure you that there will be no shortage of new lovely plants for you to choose from next season. Our plant raiser, the company we buy our seedlings and young plants from has got some beautiful new varieties and colours for us to grow on for you. Perennials are also being expanded for next season and will have a new outside sales area. Once Christmas is here, we will concentrate on tree and decoration sales, but when that's over, come the third week in January, it will be full steam ahead with seed sowing and potting on. The North Herts District Council has finally granted us planning permission for a new sales building larger than the last one. We will be hard pushed to organise that as well as all the plant production. Lawns, are always on customers minds this time of the year, questions about why theirs has got large swathes of yellow all over it? Patches of dead grass even though they don't own a dog? Slime, why have I got
slime all over my grass? Let's see if I can answer some of these? Most gardens and lawns have an abundance of fungi growing within them, deep in the sword and within the soil. Typically these fungi are never seen or become a nuisance, twice a year some of them may show themselves if the conditions they are presented with suit them. At times in spring and autumn, the soil and air temperature along with humidity, maybe just right for them to do their thing, you may see any or all of the effects as mentioned earlier. A cure may be as simple as the lawn not being fertilised correctly or often enough, perhaps not being mowed correctly for the weather conditions. In spring the weather should be warming and day length extending, the grass will be growing vigorously, the soil will still be damp giving rise to the very conditions that fungal spores love so that they will spread. In spring, any infection will be short-lived due to the temperature continually rising, and the environment is becoming too dry for them. The reverse is happening in the autumn, the soil temperature is cooling, and the evenings although still good enough for you to sit out in are allowing moisture to be held within the grass sword. Humidity is again ideal for fungi to thrive, and you will perhaps see the dreaded slime, no problem it can be washed off, mown off, or just removed with a simple sweep with a stiff broom. You can also see mushrooms and toadstools in the autumn, and these are the sign of a very healthy garden/lawn, pick them out and put them on your compost bin or in the garden waste bin. You may also see circles in your grass; these are Fairy rings, it is said that you can stand in the centre, close your eyes, spin around three times and make a wish; It will come true, but only if you believe in Pixies and Father Christmas. Enjoy your gardening, cheers Graham. Cheers,
Graham
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‘Christmas is coming,the goose is getting fat Please put a penny in the old man's hat’
Well we haven't got an old mans hat, but we have got a sleigh. Father Christmas assisted by Baldock Rotary Club will once again be visiting the streets of Baldock and surrounding villages during December and making a collection for local charities
Baldock Rotary Club Christmas Sleigh 2020 Route Be sure not to miss us. Below are the dates and streets we will be visiting. @baldockclub
Day & Date
Town/Village
Route 6 p.m. to 8 p.m
Monday 30th November
Baldock
London Road Page Close
Chiltern Road Beechridge Close
Woodland Way London Road (right)
Tuesday 1st December
Baldock (Clothall Common)
Aleyn Way Merchants Walk Constan ne Place
Chauncy Gardens Mal ngs Close Walnut Avenue
Ringtale Place Barley Rise Laxton Gardens
Wednesday 2nd December
Baldock
Bygrave Road Larkins Close Salisbury Road
Icknield Way East Bramley Close Grosvenor Road
North Road Grosvenor Road West
Thursday 3rd December
Baldock
The Sycamores Norton road Pepys Way
West Avenue Norton Crescent Hopewell Road
Coachmans Lane Letchworth Road
Friday 4th December
Baldock
Weston Way Chilvers Bank
St Mary's Way The Rise
The Leas
Monday 7th December
Baldock (Clothall Common)
Stane Street Hurst Close Rive Close
Eisenburg Close Rhee Spring Orwell View
Iredale Way Rye Gardens
Tuesday 8th December
Baldock
Nigh ngale Way Elmwood Avenue Mons Avenue
Clare Crescent Willian Way Weston Way (Top)
Ashtons lane Hillcrest London Road (le )
Wednesday 9th December
Ashwell
Ashwell Street Angels Meadow Kingsland Way
Silver Street Back Street High Street
Bear Lane Dixies Close
Thursday 10th December
Baldock
Holroyd Crescent Park Drive Park Close
The Rowans Alder Close Mansfield Road
Park Crescent Park Street
Friday 11th December
Baldock
Anchor Road Turpins Way
Ivel Way Pryor Way
Byrd Walk
Monday 14th December
Weston
Forge End Damask Green Road Friars Road
Mill Lane Maiden Street Munts Meadow
Other Cul-de-sacs Hitchin Road Damask Close
Tuesday 15th December
Baldock
Pembroke Road Pinnocks Lane Clothall Road
Limekiln Lane Penfold Close Roman Lane
South Road South Close Providence Way
Wednesday 16th December
Baldock
Football Close Jackson Street Orchard Road
Pond Lane Brewery Lane Hitchin St & The Gardens
Church Street Simpson Drive Thurnall Close
Thursday 17th December
Baldock (Clothall Common)
Wynn Close Weaver's Way Mercia Road
Westell Close Bush Spring Kings Mount
Downlands Sale Drive Kings Mount
Friday 18th December
Bygrave
Mike Williams - Rotarian NOVEMBER
2020
23
All Boiler Maintenance, Serving & Repairs
24
NOVEMBER
2020
Hypnotherapy for Relaxation Relaxa on refers to the state of body and mind that is free from tension, stress and anxiety. In todays climate where we are worrying about COVID, and all the implica ons that it brings to our lives relaxa on is an important part of selfcare, helping you look a er your wellbeing when you're feeling stressed, anxious or busy. Everyone is different and will have preferred methods of relaxing in their day to day lives, such as a nice bath, listening to music, reading a book etc. relaxa on can be achieved through exercises and
techniques, others may use relaxa on therapies such as hypnotherapy which can prove to be more effec ve. Healthy living is a ma er of balance using relaxa on along with what we eat, physical ac vity and how we handle stress. Stress affects us all in different ways and many of us don't even realise how stressed we actually are, we o en become accustomed to being tense, so we think of it as normal. Signs of stress can present itself in tense muscles, waking up red, difficulty sleeping, aches and pains, feeling fa gued, heart racing, sense of panic, loss of appe te, lack of concentra on the list is endless. Hypnotherapy is a recognised form of relaxa on therapy. It can reduce stress chemicals and bring the body back to balance. Regular sessions ease built up of pressure and tension, helping you to learn how to look a er yourself be er. The hypno c trance is the induc on of a deeply relaxed state. The mind is guided away from the troubles of everyday life and into a place of tranquillity and peace. This process encourages changes in a tude and behaviour. Benefits from this type of deep relaxa on are: Helping to restore and strengthen the immune system Lowering of blood pressure Stress relief and the lessening of chronic pain, headaches and migraines Helps to unlock emo onal blockages that can contribute to stress Improves concentra on Improves energy levels Improves sleep Hypnotherapy provides a confiden al and comfortable se ng in which your mind and body can be safely filtered of tension and stress, easing you into a relaxing state of mind. You can find a hypnotherapy therapist in your local area on the Hypnotherapy Directory. Kim Holloway Www.total-therapy.co.uk NOVEMBER
2020
25
FIRST BALDOCK BEAVERS LITTER PICK CHALLENGE!
ROGERSONS REMOVALS
As part of our World Challenge Badge, Beavers have to take part in a challenge that helps someone in their local community. This year our biggest challenge has been to find out how we can complete this and s ll stay safe, work towards our badges and enjoy being back together again and having fun. A er a li le bit of a log chew we decided we could help our local community by comple ng a li er pick around the park and surrounding area to our Scout Hut. Over 2 weeks and with 20 beavers armed with li er picking 'guns' (or lightsabres) we managed to collect 6 bin bags full of rubbish! The Beavers were really pleased with our joint effort and wanted to show how they stayed safe in the dark, had fun and enjoyed their me at Beavers whilst we can only do outdoor ac vi es. They also deserve a big pat on the back for picking up someone else's rubbish that didn't find its way into a bin. Well done all of you! GSL 1st Baldock Scouts
DECEMBER 26
NOVEMBER
2020
2015
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All Work and No Play A er seven months of working from home, I'm finally taking some tenta ve steps back to office life. I'm trying to go in at least two days a week. I've been feeling quite isolated since my youngest went back a li le while ago, so although I was relieved to be invited back in, there was a very strange anxious sense that went along with the euphoric feeling of ge ng back to normal. Those of you who have been in the same posi on as me, will no doubt be able to empathise. It's a very weird posi on to be in. I've worked all my life, part me when the kids were young and full me for at least eight years. The novelty of not going to work soon wore off and although my day is just as full here as it would be at work, it felt strange not ge ng in my car and driving there and back. Saved a fortune on petrol though so there was an upside. Many things about office life do not transfer to online webinars. Yes, we have laughed and gossiped and debated but it was never the same as being in the same room with colleagues and friends. But now I must go back and see people face to face it feels unnatural to me. I think maybe it's all the new Covid Safe rules too. It's going to be a whole new
way of working. I'm quite sure that it won't take long to get used to the new norm, but I don't know that I'm as excited about it as I thought I would be. I imagine that I will just get used to it all and we will be shut down again, but it is nice to get out of the house and see people. In a month where my telly died quickly followed by my toaster; I finally got some good news. I passed my exams. I can now teach. Yay me! I hesitate to promote myself to the lo y heights of calling myself Teacher because I'm not one; Not yet. Apart from the fact that I have not taught anything yet, which really is the basic principle of what a teacher does. I've only just stepped off the pavement onto the road and I've s ll away to travel. I'm not pu ng my achievement down; I worked hard for this qualifica on and I damn well deserve it. I'm just acknowledging that I've taken a shortcut around the back and cannot align myself with the tle of Teacher just yet. I feel a li le fraudulent at the moment. There are few teachers that come into this at my age (most people are more sensible), the teachers I know are me served, they went to uni,
they have all sorts of degrees and diplomas and are constantly upping their skills with courses and seminars and what-nots. I'm not going to bang on about how great they all are, I've done that already and it just resulted in them ge ng above themselves. But I do appreciate the work they have done compared to me to earn the tle. So, this is the plan. If I get the opportunity to teach this year, I will grab it and go with it. If I enjoy it, I will a empt the next level of the teacher training course and progress a li le further. I think the next few months will be well out of my comfort zone. I'm not even sure I can face a class of thirty rabid teenagers. Four was bad enough and I'm well past that now. I had a sneaky ou ng last week. I went Out Out. Yes, Out Out. I drank to excess whilst consuming vast amounts of cheese and watched some rugby. The main reason for going out was to watch some rugby and although I did watch some, I can't admit to watching it all nor can I remember much about it. It was a good match apparently. The lovely Nigel was the Ref, so I did occasionally look up from my beer just to focus on his lovely voice. I do have a thing for the welsh accent. The thing is, when the hangover cleared on Sunday, I realised that I hadn't laughed like that for some me. Huge belly laughs, tears nearly. It was a proper tonic, and I discovered a new cheese (new to me anyway) The Lancaster Bomb is going to become a regular visitor to my cheese board. I am a person of very few needs, give me great company, lots of giggles and cheese and I am a happy bunny.
Nicky
NOVEMBER
2020
27
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Slimming Wld Recipe Supplied by
Quorn Chilli Cottage Pie
Sandra Lloyd
This recipe uses 500g Quorn mince. If your supermarket only has smaller packs, or you're feeding five, fill out this pie with a drained can of ready cooked lentils – an easy fix and cheap, too!
Ingredients Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Low-calorie cooking spray 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 red pepper, deseeded and diced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp hot chilli powder 1 tsp paprika (ideally sweet smoked) 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried thyme 400g can chopped tomatoes 500ml hot vegetable stock 2 tbsp tomato purée 1 level tsp sweetener 500g frozen Quorn mince 400g can red kidney beans 500g celeriac, peeled and cut into chunks 2 large carrots, thickly sliced 1 small pack coriander, roughly chopped 2 tsp cumin seeds Green salad, to serve
Method 1. Spray a large, non-stick frying pan with lowcalorie cooking spray and place over a low heat. Fry the onion and pepper, stirring occasionally, until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, then add the spices and thyme and cook for 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes, stock, tomato purée and sweetener and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. 2. Stir in the frozen mince and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the beans with their juices and simmer for 10 minutes more. Season lightly and turn off the heat. 3. Meanwhile, cook the celeriac and carrots for 15 minutes in boiling water, or until soft. Drain, return to the pan and roughly mash. Add the coriander, season lightly and mix well. 4. Preheat your oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Spread the chilli into a baking dish, and spoon and spread the mash over the top. Sprinkle with the cumin seeds and bake for 20-25 minutes. Serve hot with a green salad. NOVEMBER
2020
29
PINECONES Oakley Free Range Turkeys & CONKERS Magic Moments Preschool is pleased to open its doors again for the Autumn Term and welcome some new children and families. We started the term by taking a brief opportunity to say goodbye to our children and families who had their me with us cut short and to wish them all well in their new se ngs.
Reared & prepared for Christmas Day at Dairy Farm, Bygrave Road Baldock, SG7 5DS Orders to mjoakleyfarming@gmail.com or ring Jenny 07803591714
Our new children have se led in well and are enjoying their sessions at pre-school. We love the Autumn Term – especially the conkers, pinecones and beau ful colours of the leaves. Christmas, just around the corner, is always a magical me, where sta and children become equally excited. We can't wait to put up the tree and decora ons! Please Santa pop by with some of your joy and sparkle. Magic Moments is located at the scout hut in park drive and accommodates pre-school children from that age of two. If you would like more informa on email magicmomentspreschool20 20@gmail.com ot tel 07709618434 or follow us on facebook. 30
NOVEMBER
2020
LAWN CUTTING HEDGE CUTTING LANDSCAPING PATIOS
ASHWELL
WESTON
Santa is Coming to Town Baldock Rotary has been in touch with Santa and his Elves who are glad to tell us that despite the current diďŹƒcul es they will be visi ng the streets of Baldock, Weston and Ashwell with the Sleigh, as usual, star ng on the evening of Monday, 30th November.
However, there will be some changes. We will have to respect the 'social distancing' requirements, as Santa falls into the 'vulnerable' category and will need to be protected. Therefore, unfortunately nobody will be allowed
within 2 metres of the sleigh and Santa will not be able to hand out sweets to the children (or adults!!). The biggest change will be that the Elves will not be making a house to house collec on, which is unfortunate as Christmas me, through the generosity of people in Baldock and the surrounding villages, is the Rotary club's biggest fundraiser. However, a funding page has been set up for those wishing to donate to the Club. It can be found on the Just Giving website. Look for Baldock Rotary Club Charity Account. Your contribu ons will be greatly appreciated and enable the Rotary club to con nue to make dona ons to local charitable causes and beyond. Rotarian - Paul Lucke
NOVEMBER
2020
31
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NOVEMBER
2020
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STRESS. IS IT GOOD FOR US? You slept through the alarm. You head to the kitchen, for a much-needed coffee. You discover the milks off. Breakfast cancelled; you get in the car. The petrol light comes on and every traffic light you approach turns to red. Arriving at work, somebody asks you “How you are you?”. You reply. “Fine. Thank you”. The events of the morning so far will inevitably have had a physiological effect on your body, by releasing the hormone Cor sol which is your body's “stress” response but you carry on absorbing all that the day throws at you, storing it within. Cor sol works by s mula ng your sympathe c nervous system – your fight or flight response e.g. when coming face to face with a lion – do you stay and confront it or runaway to save yourself? Stress is not necessarily a bad thing a certain level of stress is necessary for us to func on. Our modern lives are causing us to have increased levels of Cor sol. Con nuous high levels may, however, start to impact on your sleep, diges on, and immune system. Did you
know that your body will slow down your diges ve system in stressful mes, as it is not necessary for our survival? this is why, some condi ons like IBS, cons pa on, and reflux o en worsen during stressful periods. The best way to know if you are stressed, is to listen to your body. When your body is stressed, your muscles become ght and you will know that something just does not feel right. Stress can be a variety of physical and emo onal symptoms that are hard not to no ce. The problem can be that you are so busy “carrying on”, you do not take me to realise you are in fact wound up. If it were possible to get off the planet (with the ability to return), sit on a cloud and look down and observe yourself running around and chasing deadlines, you would probably decide that you need to make some changes. Just taking 10 minutes a day for yourself could really help. Returning to things that made you happy as child can be a good star ng
point, as this can evoke feelings of contentment – doing a jigsaw, reading a book, baking, colouring in or soaking in a huge bubble bath. These ac vi es mean stopping and engaging in something you do not normally take me to do. Or download a relaxa on app which have manageable 10-minute sessions. Calm and Headspace are both good. Whatever helps you to stop, breathe and regroup, (in the absence of being able to escape to a cloud) – do it. Louise Chatland, Registered Osteopath. Amber Health
NOVEMBER
2020
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NOVEMBER
2020
‘Dealing with an Estate' after someone dies -What does that mean in practical terms? Some of the prac cal things you need to think about when you lose a loved one are very obvious; for instance you have to find a way to tell family and friends and of course, you have to organise an appropriate funeral. You might also be able to think of some organisa ons and companies that need to be informed; like HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions – but did you know you can inform all government departments at the same me using the 'Tell us Once' service? If you have been named as an executor,
you may realise that you need to tell pension companies, banks, u lity companies and other organisa ons and companies that the person who has passed away had dealings with. You may realise – but you may wonder what is the best way to no fy everyone; can you phone? (providing you're feeling up to doing that), can you do it online somehow? Do you have to send an original death cer ficate and, if so, doesn't that mean you need to buy many death cer ficates? Which organisa ons might you have
over-looked? Land Registry, where a property is owned, is a common one that .people don't think of; along with companies that buildings and contents are insured through What will the bank do when you tell them? Will they simply let you close the account(s), or will it be complicated? Is 'Probate' needed? And what does 'Probate' even mean? How do you work out if Inheritance tax is due? And if it seems likely that it must be paid, how does it have to be paid? What forms must be completed to apply for Probate? And what happens before that? What are the things that need to happen a er Probate has been obtained? When can you put a property on the market to sell? And what must happen with money that has been le to children? How do you set up Trust funds? So many ques ons! It's o en difficult to find answers when you're not used to dealing with the affairs of someone who has died. You may need full-on professional help, or you may just need to ask a few ques ons and then you'll feel be er about dealing with everything yourself. At A R K Las ng Powers & Wills we have many years of experience in dealing with estates a er someone has died. We offer free telephone advice, and we have lots of guidance and informa on on our website that could help; including a checklist you can follow. Please do get in touch if you are facing difficul es dealing with the affairs of someone you've lost.
01462 440684 MOT’s Servicing £39.99 FREE RE-TEST Diagnostics MOT
NOVEMBER
2020
35
4 Sun Street, Baldock. Sg7 6QA 2c St Francis Way, Shefford. Sg17 5DZ
NHS Be er Health, which is run by Public Health England (PHE) aims to encourage a na onal 'reset' moment as we a empt to return to normal life a er COVID19 lockdown. The campaign is designed to support anybody who wants to reset or kick start their way to a healthier lifestyle, whether that's ge ng more ac ve, ea ng be er or drinking a li le less. The Be er Health campaign sets to encourage us to seize the moment and make changes to improve our future health. For those who would like to lose weight and live a healthier life, the campaign is championing Slimming World as a trusted and proven weight-loss op on. The links between COVID-19 and obesity are now further confirmed by health researchers. You can download a voucher for free membership plus six weeks for the price of five at www.slimmingworld.co.uk/be er health To find out more about all help on offer check out the campaign at www.nhs.uk/be er-health
St Marys Church Update The Annual Christmas Tree Fes val which, subject to Government changes, will be going ahead this year, albeit in a different format as we will be holding acts of worship throughout the weekend in order to conform with the latest Coronavirus guidelines. In addi on we will be holding a carol concert in place of our usual Nine Lessons and Carols. The Christmas Tree Fes val will take place on 19th / 20th December. 36
NOVEMBER
2020
Useful numbers Advice Citizen’s Advice Bureau Trading Standards Advice Samaritans
03444 111444 0300 300 8136 116 123
Councils North Hertfordshire District
01462 474000
Doctors Baldock Surgery
01462 892458
Dentist Victoria Place Dental Surgery
01763 313869
Emergency Utilities Gas Emergency Electric power cut
0800 111 999 0800 7838838
Hospitals Lister Hospital Queen Elizabeth 2 EMERGENCY HEALTH
01438 314333 01707 328111 111
Library Baldock Library
0300 123 4049
Police Police
01707 354000
Schools Knights Templar Hartseld St Johns St Marys Infants St Marys Juniors Brandles
01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 01462 892156 01462 892189
Travel Arriva Buses National Rail Enquires National Bus line
08701 201088 03457 484950 0870 6082608
Vets Baldock Veterinary Centre
01462 895579
Nurseries Weston Way Nursery Merry Go Round Peanuts Preschool
01462 892172 01462 896322 07736 124327
Play Groups Magic Moments Merry Go Round
07709 618434 01462 896322
Plumbers Maben PE James
07949 120911 07816 586777
Window & Door repairs JML Windows Repairs Warrens Windows
01438 906300 01462 261401
Florist Blooms of Baldock
07747 195325
Locksmith Lock and Glaze
07737885528
Mobile Hair Dresser Hair By Jacqui
07973 788418
Funeral Directors Shires - CPJ Field Baldock
01462 491149
NOVEMBER
2020
37
Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk
November Gallery
A belated Happy Birthday to one of the Hardest working Men in Baldock, Bob Chapman
Rob Scahill receiving his ‘Make a Difference Award’ from Tont Hadley A couple of photos’ of local lad Charlie McClure who took part in the Leap of Faith Tandem Skydive back in September, in aid of Sands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Society). Charlie and his wife Katie lost their daughter Mabel Alice in October 2019, after being told she had severe medical complications during their twenty week scan. Charlie’s jump managed to raise over £1600
Florrie Jones with her munchkin
Sun Flower Hill near Pirton, taken whilst out cycling - Stuart Knock
No we we don’t don’t want want our our photo photo taken taken No - CarolynRutherford Rutherford Carolyn 38
NOVEMBER
2020