October 2020

Raising awareness of what’s on & where to find things locally

Issue 72 October 2020

www.onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk Baldock, Ashwell, Weston and surrounding villages

Welcome

to the October Issue We've officially made it through the dreaded back to school season. We've been rather impressed with how well the schools in our area have adapted. A few small changes seem to have gone a long way and the new bubble system of isolating year groups will hopefully help to curb any spikes in COVID cases.

Autumn is feeling a little different this year with the absence of Baldock's Oktoberfest and the street fair that usually takes over the High Street. In the same way that the schools and local businesses have changed and adapted to the new normal, we'll be finding new ways to have fun over the next few months. We've seen lots of social media posts going around suggesting a new way to go trick or treating. It encourages people in the community to display a pumpkin drawing/painting in there windows (similar to the rainbows we saw back in March and April) and when the children spot one their parents can pop a sweet into their bag rather than knocking on doors.

If you're excited about getting into the spooky spirit another great activity for the October half term is pumpkin picking! Grab your wellies and get yourselves up to Weston to pick your own pumpkins ready to carve.

October is also the last month that the Baldock car boot sale will be open, before closing down for the winter months. Time for one last clear out or to pick up some preloved goodies.

Right, on to this month’s magazine, Matt Porter, AKA The Gadget Man, has been testing out an amazing piece of tech in the form of an air purifier on page 13. Motoring Journalist Tim Barnes Clay has been putting the new Suzuki Swift Sport through it’s paces, read how it faired on page 11.

Everyone's favourite realist, Nicky, has written a bit of a tear jerker about the recent loss of her family pet, a very sad story but one that many of us can relate to. It's a really touching read and will definitely make you want to give your fluffy friends a good cuddle.

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.

OCTOBER

2020

3

Baldock Community At Its Best - Events Update

Cheers!

With yet another cancella on of the Baldock community fireworks, it only leaves one more event in the Baldock 2020 calendar. The Baldock Christmas Fayre and Christmas light switch on Keep an eye out on the Facebook page for an update nearer the me.

The beer fes val commi ee have taken possession of their containers to store their kit and their fundraising pages will go live in November. They will make decisions on whether next year's events will go ahead in the New Year.

For those who got down to the Orange Tree for the GlastonTree fes val over what would have been the Balstock weekend in September, you might have heard some of the musicians thanking Rob for the support he gave to local musicians during lockdown.

We all know how Rob's amazing ac ons to turn the pub into a grocery

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OCTOBER

2020

As Rob said "I store and take away venue helped the community and raised money with his online fundraiserthought it wasn't morally right for me to go and make money out of the this. I've got loads of mates who do Balstock and I had a bit of a brainwave that the guys can't obviously play in pubs and if they can't work for three months or possibly longer they won't have any money' Rob and his team raised an amazing amount of money and the funds were distributed to the musicians via the Balstock Music Commi ee.

What Rob doesn't know at the me of this edi on going to press is that he is being recognised for his hard work. Rob has been nominated for the BBC 3 coun es 'Make a Difference (MAD) award for the Music fund which supported 16 musicians who lost their income because of the pandemic. He is s ll raising money, and where he can con nues to support musicians – in Rob's words because 'Music is everything'.

The Orange Tree now hosts 'The Balstock Pod' which is a permanent reminder of the Baldock 'Fes val' spirit. It

will be used as an outdoor performance area whilst Rob is allowed.

So raise your glasses Baldock and give our Rob a massive Cheers! Well done that man xx Stay safe everyone

Tara

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AMAZING LOW BACK PAIN Amazingly common, amazingly hard to accurately diagnose but amazingly easy to control with the right advice.

Low back pain affects around onethird of the UK adult popula on each year.

Your spine is made of solid, bony b l o c ks s e p a rate d by c u s h i o n i n g intervertebral discs and reinforced by strong ligaments and muscles. It is surprisingly difficult to damage your spine but if strained or sprained, it and the surrounding muscles and ligaments can cause discomfort and pain.

Back pain is not normally caused by anything serious, though it is natural to worry about symptoms and causes. An Osteopath will always complete an extensive examina on that checks for more serious diagnoses and will advise and discuss with you any treatment or further ac on that might be required.

Pa ents who are experiencing back pain for the first me, are o en very anxious and worried about what might have happened to them. Muscles are o en in spasm trying to protect the

spine and this can be incredibly painful so, it is natural to be worried.

You should always get a spinal specialist i.e. an Osteopath to help you understand, treat and advise you about any low back pain but you should seek immediate medical care if your lower back pain is experienced in tandem with any of the following symptoms: 1.Increasing weakness in your legs.

2.Loss of bladder and/or bowel control.

3.Severe stomach pain.

4.High fever.

General back care ps:Ÿ Keeping ac ve can help with most back pain and will keep backs healthy.

Prolonged bed rest is usually not good for backs and delays recovery Ÿ When li ing and carrying always keep the item close to your body. Make sure to bend your knees and let your legs do the work. Try not to twist your back – turn with your feet Ÿ Take regular exercise (aim for 30 minutes every day). People who are physically fit generally experience less back pain and recover faster

Pace yourself when undertaking any physical ac vity, especially when it is intensive, or you are unaccustomed to it e.g. spring cleaning or dying the garden a er the winter Ÿ Adjust your car seat, use a rolled-up towel to support the lower back and take regular breaks on long journeys Ÿ Ma resses and sofas wear out over me and can cause back pain. If yours is old, it may be me to get a new one.

Tim Moynihan, Osteopatht pa Ÿ

OCTOBER

2020

7

DEPRESSION The word depression can be overused at mes, o en people say they are depressed when they are merely feeling a bit fed up.

Depression is more than the normal feelings created by the usual ups and downs of everyday life. If your low mood interferes with your life or simply doesn't go away, or if they reoccur over and over, it could a sign that you are depressed.

Here are a few sta s cs for Mental health problem listed from mentalhealth.org.uk 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem.

Where Will You Wake Up Tomorrow

In England women are more likely than men to have a common mental health problem and are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety disorders In 2013 6,233 suicides were recorded in the UK for people aged 15 and older. Of these 78% were male and 22% were female.

There are many ways in which depression shows itself. You may not at first realise what's going on because the issues may appear to be more physical ie sleeping problems, lack of energy, unexplained weight gain or loss, loss of libido.

Any person old or young, male or female can become depressed.

Depression is increasing in all age groups, but par cularly in the younger teenage group. Females tend to experience depression twice as frequently than males, and depression is es mated around 42% more common amongst children, that have grown up with a parent that is depressed.

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OCTOBER

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Women find it difficult to go out and socialize, especially if they are looking a er children, and feel more 'trapped' in the home environment.

Menopause, weight gain, hypertension, marriage problems are all possible nega ve a ributes in their life along with low self esteem or a lack of confidence.

Men tend to experience depression with a job loss, not being promoted, arguments at home with the wife or teenage children, ge ng older, and perhaps experience health problems.

They frequently do not to seek

therapy or go to their doctor. Men may go out with their friends, socialize and drink more alcohol to suppress their underlying anxie es and depression.

Children can be misdiagnosed as a behavioural disorder, a learning disability, certainly being bullied at school can cause depression.

Depression in the elderly, where their children have le home whom they no longer see, believe that their life is over, or have some illness or disease, which again may be undiagnosed. Hypnotherapy may help iden fy the causes and origins of the depression. Once this occurs people o en describe it as “a weight being li ed�.

Hypnotherapy can also help you recognise any pa erns of nega ve thinking you may be caught up in.

Depression can obscure ra onal, realis c thinking, making everything in life appear awful all the me.

Hypnotherapy can help you replace old thinking pa erns with more useful ones. A professional hypnotherapist with experience of working with people to overcome depression will help you to understand the impact of your past, to focus on the present in order to work towards the future you desire.

Kim Holloway www.total-therapy.co.uk

Update from Baldock Flower Society "We hope all our Members in Baldock Floral Society are staying safe and well and we are sorry we have not been able to meet up since our AGM in March. We are thinking of you all and hope you will all stay safe during the winter months and that we can meet up again around April next year. We will keep you posted. If in the mean me you have any queries please contact the Chairman."

OCTOBER

2020

9

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OCTOBER

2020

Suzuki Swi Sport Hybrid

Small, Sweet & Speedy

By Tim Barnes-Clay Follow on Instagram @tbarnsclay

By Tim- Barnes-Clay - Motoring Journalist It's small, it's sweet, yet it's a speedy motor. That just about sums up Suzuki's Swi Sport Hybrid.

It looks almost naughty from the back with its cheeky twin tailpipes - and with five aboard the car appears suitably hunkered down. Hang on, did I say five?

Yes, that's right - I got the whole family into this Japanese supermini. That involves “her indoors” and me in the front - and the three nippers in the back.

Well, they're not all ny anymore - so it surprised me that two fairly grown youngsters could fit alongside their smaller sibling in her child seat.

Was it a squeeze? Hell, yes - but we did it! And the car s ll didn't lack power.

That “Sport” moniker doesn't lie - the Swi in this guise does zero to 62mph in just over nine seconds, and its maximum speed is 130mph. What's more, we went on a long trip to the wilds of Norfolk - and the 50mpg we got on our 200-mile round trip impressed us.

Emissions are only 127g/km CO2, too.

So, what's all the hybrid stuff about, then? Well, I won't bore you with the details; all you need to know is that a bunch of tech, including a 48V ba ery and an electric motor, assists the car's 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbo engine. The new powertrain helps improve fuel consump on by six per cent, but it also

enhances driving feel by adding more pulling power to the party.

Behind the wheel, you get a real sense of fun sat in the Sport's bucket-like seats, but any nu er-esque driving is best done without your kids in the back. The Swi 's bodyshell is so light that you can chuck the car into bends and zip along straights like you stole it. On top of that, the sixspeed manual gearbox tears through the gears like a mad thing. I swear down, the car's 0-62mph sprint genuinely feels quicker than the figures on paper state.

The supermini is no ceably quieter than it used to be as well - possibly due to a roof spoiler that helps to reduce wind resistance, but also because of the decent materials in the cabin that help muffle unwanted sounds. The Suzuki's safe, too - due to six airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recogni on.

So, the Swi Sport Hybrid is a bit of devil really - on the one hand, from the front, it looks “bu er wouldn't melt” innocent.

On the other hand, the li le five-door hatch's raunchy rear is a tell-tale sign that it's at a similar level to some hothatches. For £21,570 you get a lot - for a li le car.

Fast Facts Suzuki Swi Sport 1.4 Boosterjet Hybrid - as tested: Ÿ Max speed: 130mph Ÿ 0-62 mph: 9.1 secs Ÿ Combined mpg: 50.1 Ÿ Engine Layout: 1373cc, four-cylinder turbo petrol Ÿ Max. power (PS): 129 Ÿ CO2: 138 g/km Ÿ Price: £21,570

OCTOBER

2020

11

ST

HAPPY 21 BIRTHDAY

WILL BROWNING ND

2 OCTOBER

Lots of Love Mum & Dad

Best Wishes The Ha s

Chelsie 11th Octob

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to my lovely hubby

MATTHEW BARTLETT 10th Oct. Love Jude xx

From Tim & Lorraine William Chapman 2nd October

th

4

Love Nanny & Grandad Chapman 12

OCTOBER

2020

Kebao Air 3: Game-Changing air purication comes to the UK

Poor air quality has become one of the largest environmental risks to the health of people of the United Kingdom and with the Coronavirus Pandemic it has become more important than ever that we breathe healthy air that is free from harmful par cles and unpleasant viruses.

So, it was incredibly mely that I was recently contacted by Kebao to test their new 'filterless' air purifier, namely the Kebao Air 3.

The Air 3 combines sleek design with cu ng edge technology, which in turn completely eliminates 99.99% of airborne pollutants, viruses, bacteria and allergens and consequently provides 'Surgical Grade' air and deodorisa on.

Instead of using standard High Efficiency Par culate Air (HEPA) filters that can capture par culate ma er of 0.3 microns or larger with 99.95% efficiency (human hair is between 17 and 181 microns), the Kebao Air 3 is capable of elimina ng par cles down to a size of 0.01 microns. This is a big deal because COVID19 par cles are around 0.12 microns in size, small enough to pass through a HEPA filter, but the toobig to pass through the Air 3!

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The Kebao Air 3 does this using a brand-new type of 5-stage filtra on.

Stage 1 is a pre-filter which removes larger par cles from the air and can be cleaned and reused for the life me of the product. Stage 2 uses a high-voltage nega ve charge to deac vate viruses and bacteria and retains the debris on charged plates stopping re-release. Stage 3 using a mind-blowing 'Photocataly c Oxidisa on' based on Albert Einstein's 'Photon Energy'. UV light ini ates a stepwise free radical decomposi on of organic compounds, which produces water and carbon-dioxide as a byproduct. The Air 3 has 48 LED bulbs and a Ti02 alumina ceramic photocataly c ozone-free filter. Stage 4 uses 4kg of loose granulated carbon, impregnated with amines which absorbs and decomposes any harmful gasses. Stage 5 Surgical grade, deodorised air is circulated through you room clear of 99.99% of harmful par culates!

The display shows air quality in two readings, the first two numbers are the temperature and humidity, the second set are PM2.5 and TVOC readings.

PM2.5 is a measure of the number of par cles less that 2.5 microns in size and

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are caused by burning fuel, chemical reac ons and forest fires. PM2.5 par cles are very unhealthy, causing eye, nose and throat irrita ons, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. They can also cause asthma, chronic bronchi s and heart disease. In the UK, air must remain below 25, the WHO recommend below 10, London's average is 10, my house is currently 1 a er having the Air 3 running for over a week!

The second se ng is TVOC (Total Vola le Organic Compound) which is another way of measuring air quality, again this was negligible at 0.02 a er week of running.

All of this amazing technology comes at a price. The unit is aimed at commercial enterprises who want to keep their staff and customers safe, so it would suit a restaurant or office space as it is ac vely cleaning the air the whole me. The price of £1600 reflects a premium commercial product, but I can honestly see it becoming something of a norm in the UK especially due to the current crisis!

Stay safe

Matt

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PREPARE YOUR PETS FOR FIREWORKS It may be helpful to seek Veterinary advice for your pet 6 – 12 weeks before the firework season begins to help you prepare for it, as now days it won't just happen on November the 5th.

Ideally for behavioural advice regarding fireworks you will need to see your Vet a lot earlier around 3 – 6 months in advance.

Dogs (Signs to look out for) Pan ng & pacing, shaking, growling, finding places to hide.

Try walking your dog earlier and making sure they have eaten, close your curtains a bit earlier and put the TV or radio on for background noise. Maybe give your dog a filled Kong to keep them busy, as this may help to distract them and ease their anxiety.

Cats (Signs to look out for) Hissing or low grumbling, hiding, withdrawing from you, ears back, and crouching gait.

Make sure you keep your cat in if you know a firework display is planned nearby, and as you do for dogs close the curtains earlier than usual, and put the TV or radio on to help reduce the outside noises.

Make sure there are places easily accessible for your cat to hide, and provide an indoor li er tray in a convenient loca on, as anxious cats o en avoid toilet visits if they feel threatened.

Small Pets Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, ferret and birds all need to be treated with special care when fireworks are being let off. These animals are easily frightened.

Hutches/cages and enclosures should if possible be put in a quiet room indoors, or a garage or shed.

Give your pet extra bedding so they can burrow into it to make them feel safe. If you cannot move the hutches or aviaries cover them with thick blankets or even an old duvet

to help block out the flashes from the fireworks and it will also deaden the sound of the bangs, but do make sure there is enough ven la on.

If you have any other concerns or ques ons then please call the prac ce and our dedicated staff will be there to assist you.

Enjoy the sparkles with your pets safely

OCTOBER

2020

15

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Screen this month’s new releases

PIXIE

CONNECTED

Out 16th Oct

Out 9th Oct When Katie Mitchell, a creative outsider, is accepted into the film school of her dreams, her plans to fly to college are upended when her nature-loving dad Rick, determines the whole family should drive Katie to school together and bond as a family one last time. Suddenly, the Mitchells’ plans are interrupted by a global tech uprising from all the electronic devices people love. the Mitchells will have to work together to save each other and the world!

Pixie (Olivia Cooke) wants to avenge her mother’s death by masterminding a heist, but her plans go awry and she finds herself on the run with two young men (Ben Hardy, Daryl McCormack) who are way out of their depth being chased across the wild Irish countryside by… deadly gangster priests. She has to pit her wits against everyone, taking on the patriarchy to claim the right to shape her own life.

Certificate PG

Certificate N/A

Running Time N/A

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

A CALL TO SPY

OOOPS

Out 23rd Oct

Out 28th Oct

In the beginning of WWII, Churchill orders his new spy agency -- the Special Operations Executive to recruit and train women as spies.

Their daunting mission: conduct sabotage and build a resistance.

SOE's "spymistress," Vera Atkins recruits two unusual candidates.

Virginia Hall, an ambitious American and Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim pacifist. Together, these women help to undermine the Nazi regime in France. Inspired by true stories.

It's the end of the world. A flood is coming. Luckily for Dave and his son Finny, a couple of clumsy Nestrians, an Ark has been built to save all animals. But as it turns out, Nestrians aren't allowed. Sneaking on board with the involuntary help of Hazel and her daughter Leah, they think they're safe. Until the curious kids fall off the Ark. Now Finny and Leah struggle to survive the flood and hungry predators and attempt to reach the top of a mountain.

Certificate PG

Certificate U

Running Time 183 mins

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OCTOBER

2020

May all your troubles soon be gone, When Christmas lights keep shining on, And when Santa's sleigh comes along.

Baldock Rotary Club will again be fulďŹ lling those dreams this Christmas with lights in Baldock town centre and Santa's Sleigh visi ng the streets of Baldock and surrounding villages.

You too can be a part of those celebra ons by helping the Club with the installa on of the lights during November and with sleigh

collec ons during the three weeks leading up to Christmas.

If you would like to contribute to your local Community's enjoyment of this year's Christmas, then please contact Keith Bri er on 01462 896189 or 07866739248.

Your help will be very much appreciated.

Rotarian - Paul Lucke

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hertsnativetrees@gmail.com OCTOBER

2020

19

Baldock Gardens

By Graham Tapp

October 2020 This strange year now has me completely confused; as I wrote a few months ago, I had given up on my vegetable growing area—a shortage of water when our irrigation pump broke with the combination of the extreme heat early on. It then turned very wet for weeks and weeks, the very thing that had our cereal growers pulling their hair out in frustration. Well, I decided enough was enough, and I would take the tractor and mow the record-breaking weeds off and plough it ready for something to grow over winter.

As the old saying goes, you could have knocked me over with a feather! When I started looking, I realised that most of the crops had not only survived but had flourished even among the shoulder high fat hen.

Most surprising is that the red sprouts are standing a good metre high and showing good bud form so we will give a good crop for Christmas dinner.

The list goes on, leeks, cabbage, shallots, and onions have all grown well. Even some transplanted beetroot has formed nicely; now I am always advising against transplanting beetroot, it is well known that they perform better sown directly into the ground. Hot weather after planting will cause them to bolt, but no they are good, a bit smaller than I would have liked but good to use.

Strangest of all are the potatoes; the tops died off weeks before they should have, an absolute disaster you would think, again - no the Kestrels' have excelled, they are supposed to be second early mid-sized potatoes, these are monster baking sized, how? I have no idea.

The tractor and mower have gone back in the shed for now.

I am scratching my head wondering how this happened. It must be magic.

Plans for next year are to clear the site once the harvesting of the magic crops is complete and install raised beds; I have years of compost probably several tons

all produced from plant matter and waste soil from the garden centre. This compost will fill the beds nicely, ready for a good start in the spring. The pathways between the beds will be made with ground cover saved from the old flooring in the garden centre, for safety reasons we have to change it every few years, trip hazards etc.

The secret, I hope, to keeping it all growing even in a difficult season like this one is the new irrigation system.

Installed this year, and it has redundancy incorporated, such as two sources of water, using the borehole and the new rainwater harvesting system, three pumps and two interconnected delivery piping systems.

Each of the two systems has a dilutional feeder that injects feed or water softener directly into the irrigation water.

We can now feed every crop with organic nutrients as and when it is required.

Another investment for this year has been a misting sprayer so that we can obtain organic control of the nasty pests such as red spider, whitefly, and aphids.

Going back to the raised beds, I am going to set up a five-bed rotating system. This rotation can be found courtesy of the R H S on their web site.

It gives you everything in the way of the information you need to establish a long-running successful small to medium size vegetable garden.

I am downsizing our vegetables to make my life a bit easier as I have got tens of thousands of other plants to look after.

One thing I have tried this year that I have never grown for myself is sweet melons. I have seen them grown many years ago by my old head gardener and Boss "Tom Young". To eat a homegrown melon is something special. I wish I had tried growing them earlier.

This year has been ultra-successful for tomatoes we have grown several varieties to use in our tearoom; we tried

a purple type that looked quite strange but tasted genuinely nice.

Unfortunately, customers disagreed with the colour. Their favourite is a small orange tomato called Sun gold they have a Brix value of 10 (the level of sweetness) and lovely acid background to balance it, soft skins, and few pips.

Extremely easy to grow using whatever system you prefer, remember that tomatoes will soak up the sunshine as well as they do water, so grow them where they are in as much sun as they can get. The best tips I can give you for getting good quality fruits is to plant the young plants as deep as you can get them as they will grow roots up the stem to the soil/compost surface, and always take the bottom leaves off up to the first fruit truss. As the leaves turn yellow from the bottom up, take them off as well. A good foliar spray of calcium will prevent blossom end rot. Always keep them well watered, do not let the plants dry out or they will take up so much in one go that the fruits will split. Mix a liquid feed in and use it every time, little and often is best.

My faithful old grapevine has given its best again, a white grape given to me by Fred Saunders, he gave me a cutting from what he described as the best vine he had ever seen in 1986 and it's been growing here ever since. Fred also presented me with a two-litre bottle of wine made from the grapes from the mother plant the cutting came from he told me to keep it for a few years before we would drink it.

Unfortunately, Fred got ill and died before we could open it, so the bottle is still sealed never to be drunk. I do drink a pint or two of beer in his name. and think of him when eating the lovely sweet grapes; they should last the birds and me until Christmas.

Cheers,

Graham

Tapps, The Baldock Garden Centre

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OCTOBER

2020

WESTON

NO BALDOCK STREET FAIR FOR 2020 It is with a heavy heart we share the news that this years fair will not be taking place.

Baldock Charter Street Fair has always been about bringing friends and family together in a fun and safe environment.

We have been working relessly, exploring every possible op on in the hopes of being able to move forward with the fair in a responsible manner and provide Baldock and surrounding areas with some much needed fun.

However, in light of ongoing health concerns, travel restric ons and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, We at Abbo 's Amusements have decided to cancel this years fair as the health and wellbeing of local residents is our number one priority.

Thank you to NHDC for all your work together with us on everything regarding the fair.

Thank you to all visitors that a end the fair year in, year out.

We hope to see you in 2021 and we will make sure it's the best Baldock Charter Street Fair EVER! Charles & Cy Abbo Abbo 's Amusements

Sad Times I was very hesitant about wri ng this month's ramble. I o en write about what's on my mind and find that keeping this light is the best way forward. I have all sorts of poli cal, environmental and pandemic related stuff knocking about in the vast caverns of my mind, but find those subjects to be too conten ous to write about without the dis nct possibility of upse ng those of you that are kind enough to spare the me to read this. Unfortunately, I find that I cannot keep these thoughts locked up in my head, so I am unburdening on you and I do apologies for it.

We lost our li le Doug a few weeks back. Not lost as in “where are you? you stupid dog”. But lost as in he was poorly on Tuesday and gone on the Friday evening. I am devasta ngly heartbroken.

When I was about twenty or so, I had to take our dog Tarry to the vet for the last me. I know I was upset, but I don't remember being like this. I feel that maybe it's because I was young, with a very busy life, so although I did grieve, it was a passing, flee ng thing that didn't linger.

Those of you that have lost a pet will no doubt understand the pain. I don't.

We lost a fish once; it was my daughters and she was so upset. My youngest son cracked some silly joke which was extremely funny, and my daughter flew at him. It was one of those strange moments as a parent when you must try to appear angry and stern whilst s fling a fit of the giggles. If I recall correctly it was a bit of a parental fail. We also had a Rabbit that liked to run away. Well, he ran away once and didn't come back.

Search par es were dispatched but it was all for nowt. Again, it was my daughters and I can report that I had learnt my lesson from the fish and portrayed just the right amount of conciliatory a tude. My son had also learned his lesson and kept very quiet.

When friends and acquaintances pass, you are sad that you won't see them anymore, and when you remember them on occasion, you stop and pause a while to smile at some silly thing that you did together or something they said, but it doesn't necessarily stop you in your tracks for long. I have been very lucky in my life not to have suffered a death from a person really close to me, so this depth of grief is a concept I find difficult to fathom.

We had him for eight years and I thought we might have him for a few more. I would never have dreamt that I would feel how I think you might feel when a member of the family goes. But why not? Why shouldn't I? he was a member of my family and a big part of my life. I guess you just take things like that for granted. There was no me to think, no me to prepare. We spent Thursday and Friday prac cally camped out at the Vets acquiring bags full of pills and po ons. When the Vet gave me the out of hours Vets number, I started to think it was bad. I was at their doorstep in North Mims at seven and being asked to make a decision by a quarter passed. I have no idea how I drove home. The next few day were spent in a haze of dried tears and sno y noses, and then the pain started to ease, it went from u erly debilita ng to just numb and sniffly.

Those of you who take no ce of my ramblings will remember that I have described Doug as a coward, shaking and hiding at the slightest sound. But my wonderful middle son said something to me that helped my grief so much. He said that Doug wasn't a coward, he was a brave, strong li le dog. He had so much to deal with; his bad skin, his fears, Eddie stealing his kibble and he dealt with it all and s ll wagged his tail.

Eddie and I are ge ng be er at knowing Doug isn't here. We've almost stopped wandering round the house and sniffing stuff (Eddie does the sniffing, not me In case you were in any doubt), our walks are less strange each day, but we both seem to be a li le lost without our pal.

Nicky

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2020

23

RUN TALK RUN OUR MISSION Run Talk Run exists to make both running and mental health support less in mida ng, and more accessible.

So many of us suer some kind of 'imposter syndrome' when it comes to our mental health, which can make it tricky to seek support. You might have a feeling that you need somewhere to talk, but you don't necessarily want to go to a GP or a therapist.

We think that peer support and community can help, and running does a rather lovely job at facilita ng those conversa ons for us. There are so many reasons why running makes it easier to open up.

HOW IT WORKS Run Talk Run is a weekly 5km gentle jog. Before every run there is a window of me to meet the other runners and say hello to the run leader. It's alright if

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2020

you're a li le anxious and quiet - we all 'get it' at Run Talk Run. The leader then explains the logis cs of the route (reminding the group that the run is gentle and that there is no pressure to "keep up"), and that at the forefront of our runs is support... this really is a safe space to talk about how you're really doing.

JOIN US FOR A 5KM RUN - SUITABLE FOR ALL ABILITIES LOCATION - Outside Pixies-24A High Street Baldock.

TIME - Every Tuesday 9.15am for 9.30am Start.

TO JOIN THE BALDOCK CREW DOWNLOAD THE FREE MYCREW APP AND REGISTER

To all our Legion members, Poppy collectors, and supporters in Baldock : It has been decided by Haig House, the Royal Bri sh Legion HQ that in view of the current pandemic and government advice, that the Poppy Appeal will only be performed by unmanned loca ons, i.e. trays with Poppy pots le in shops and pubs so the public can 'purchase' their poppy by dona ng directly into the pot.

Those who wish to buy a dated lapel badge (and other Poppy products) can purchase them online from the online Poppy Shop -

h ps://www.poppyshop.org.uk/.

With a view to the current restric ons on public gatherings there will not be an organised parade on either Remembrance Sunday (08/11/2020) or on Armis ce Day.(11/11/2020).

If you do decide to pay your respects on either day, please be aware of social distancing.

Naturally we are very disappointed to have to cancel these events as Remembrance and the Poppy Appeal are the major events of the RBL year, but it cannot be avoided if we are to get through the current health crisis.

Many thanks to all of you who con nue to support the RBL and the Poppy Appeal, that support is vital if we are to con nue the good work of suppor ng the Armed Forces Family.

Stay safe, and thank you, The Chairman & Commi ee of the Royal Bri sh Legion, Baldock Branch.

BALDOCK BEATS WASTE Thanks to everyone who joined us li erpicking in Baldock yesterday. Well done to all. We covered quite a range of areas including Mansfield Road, Park Drive and Weston Way through to Avenue Park, around Tesco, the passageway to the Buffs field, some of London Road.

I myself picked up a load of cigare e bu s and sweet/choccy wrappers, several masks, water and other bo les and cans and a few gas cylinders and quite a bit of general detritus like takeaway packaging and what appeared to be a smashed TV - lots of glass. One or two caches could be a ributed to social gatherings.

But many areas, especially residen al, were good. If we could all con nue to dy up our own streets and help educate people about trash in public areas it would be great.

Pix show most of our super volunteers and some of the trash we collected, some having been disposed of along the way.

One volunteer sent this account: “I picked up a lot of roll-your-own cigare e filter p packaging, glass bo les, aluminium cans, 1 costa lid, 2 cigare e packets, Doritos packet, 1 plas c straw, 1 empty condom packet, 2 of those silver gas cylinders the kids inhale the gas from!

Chewit wrappers, cigare e bu s, and sweet/ chocolate wrappers. 1 curved iron rod for holding a lantern maybe. “

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2020

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2020

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Peanuts Preschool in Weston is 2 years old! more birthdays to come!

Through Coloured Renders

On 10th September we celebrated being open for 2 years. There were balloons and some cake, and the children had a lovely me helping to create our beau ful birthday card.

All of us at Peanuts would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past 2 years.

Whether you child has a ended Peanuts, or you have kindly donated toys or books, or whether you were involved in crea ng our lovely garden space, we thank you all!

We are proud of our lovely Preschool, and we look forward to celebra ng many

If you would like any informa on regarding Peanuts, then please call us on 07736 124327 or email on peanutspreschool@hotmail.c om

OCTOBER

2020

27

“On Your Marks, Get Set, Go!” Sandra Lloyd Slimming World Consultant for Baldock talks to Laura Sims, about her personal journey from Couch to 10k and a super slim two dress sizes down!

Sandra: So Laura can you recall what the 'trigger' was to want to make a change and lose weight?

Laura: Like many of us, I guess, just feeling slow, old and uncomfortable in my clothes. Seeing photos of what you really look like is a good reminder it's me for a change.

Sandra: How were you feeling about your body image and fitness before you joined Slimming World?

Laura: Not good. My fitness was poor as my priori es had become si ng at a desk rather than enjoying moving.

Although I was doing yoga and some dog walks, I didn't really have any cardio ac vity in my daily rou ne.

Sandra: What do you love about Slimming World and our Food Op mising plan? Was it easy to follow?

Laura: It teaches you that you can eat most things, I had done die ng by depriva on and it just doesn't work! It really makes you think about how you plan your food intake to give you energy and feel good, without being starving. It's easy to apply to real life, whether you are going out for dinner or ea ng on the go, it's just normal everyday food you already love.

Sandra: How would you say a ending a group has played a part in your success?

Laura: A ending a group was really important way for me to keep on track.

I'd done Slimming World successfully before, but when I wasn't able to a end group anymore, it was easy to go backwards. Both giving and receiving meal ideas and ps are great for keeping on plan, and it encourages you to plan for the coming week. It's thinking me that is essen al for success.

Sandra: You've just run the Duxford Dash 10k? At what point in your weightloss journey did you feel the confidence to start running and how did you get started.

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Laura: I was at least two thirds into my weight loss before I felt that I could start increasing my cardio exercise, but I was determined be able to do more. A local triathlon coach was offering to run a Couch to 5k programme in the village where I live and I thought that this was my chance to see if I could do it. I began at the start of February 2020; li le did we know what was to follow... by the me I reached the end of the programme, partly on my own, there was no park run to a end, which had been my aim. Through lockdown, the village club - Steeple Chasers Running and Cycling Club - really took off, virtually. Connec ng through a Facebook group, we found innova ve ways to enjoy group running and cycling challenges without seeing each other.

By summer, I was comfortably running 8km three mes a week, so I was pleased when it looked like the 10k Duxford Dash would be able to operate in September, and I signed up. I can't believe how far I have come. I know it is cheesy the secret of success really is to just get started, you will surprise yourself! group, we found innova ve ways to enjoy group running and cycling challenges without seeing each other.

By summer, I was comfortably running 8km three mes a week, so I was pleased when it looked like the 10k Duxford Dash would be able to operate in September, and I signed up. I can't believe how far I have come. I know it is cheesy the secret of success really is to just get started, you will surprise yourself!

Sandra: What has been the biggest challenge that you have overcome since joining if any?

Laura: S cking at, week a er week, is the challenge I'm proud to have overcome. It would have been easy through lockdown to give up, or wait un l later, but I'm so glad I didn't!

Sandra: So how do you feel in yourself now you've lost weight?

Laura: Fantas c! Lots more energy, nd I feel in control of what I'm ea ng and choosing. I really struggled to find a photograph for the before pic, now I don't mind being in photographs at all.

I'm really happy with my body shape and fitness.

Sandra: Last ques on … can you she your favourite meal please?

Laura: There are so many, it's hard to choose, but I would say that Chicken Orzo Bake is a current favourite. Every me I make it, I remember how delicious and filling it is.

Sandra: Thank you Laura, I am so proud of what you have achieved. You are now a ending group as a valued Target Member and helping to inspire others. If someone was worried about walking through the door, especially as we learn to live with COVID, what would you say to them: Laura: Being in group is a safe space in so many ways. Sandra has done so much to put COVID safety measures in place, you can literally a end group without touching anything or anyone.

But it's safe in other ways too; no one judges you for the week you have had.

Other members have o en had similar experiences, and are ready to share how they have overcome any barriers, increased their ac vity and not forge ng great meal ideas. So I would say do it now, get planning your journey and don't look back, you're not going that way!

To enable safe social distancing booking is now essen al ... text or call Sandra on 07716 761 610.

Slimming Wld Recipe Supplied by

Sandra Lloyd

Chicken & Sweetcorn Chowder Sink your spoon into a bowl of this hearty and filling chicken and sweetcorn chowder

Ingredients 3 x 200g cans sweetcorn kernels in water 1 onion, roughly chopped 1 small leek, finely chopped 1 medium potato, peeled and chopped 1 tsp smoked paprika 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1.2 litres boiling vegetable stock 1 skinless and boneless chicken breast, finely chopped Ÿ 3 tbsp fat-free natural yogurt Ÿ Juice of 1 lime Ÿ 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Method 1. .Preheat your oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4.

2. Tip 1 can of drained sweetcorn into a roasting tin and cook in the oven for 20 minutes or until slightly browned. Keep warm.

3. Meanwhile, put the onion, leek, potato, paprika and garlic in a saucepan. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil over a high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

4. Add the remaining sweetcorn to the pan and cook for 5 minutes, then blend until smooth with a stick blender (or use a food processor and return to the pan).

5. Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.

6. Stir the yogurt, lime juice and chives into the soup and season to taste. Divide between bowls and top with the roasted corn to serve.

OCTOBER

2020

29

Compliant with Government guidance on managing the risk of Covid-19

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2020

5 minutes with... ... Joe Brigham from Sigma *Hi Joe, Tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi my name is Joe Brigham and I am the Head Coach and Owner of "Sigma Func onal Strength & Condi oning" in Letchworth. I am 39 years old an a qualified Level 3 personal trainer, Sports massage therapist, Level 4 Strength & Condi oning coach, and Precision Nutri on coach - among other things! I have been working in the fitness industry around a decade and have trained people everywhere from hospitals, to big box London gyms, MMA gyms, private studios, Leisure centres, and now my own venue. Training everyone from world-class athetes, current and exolympians, ex-professional rugby players, aspiring runners, and of course for the bulk of my me - the general popula on who want to move/look/feel be er. *How did get into the fitness industry?

It's not how you might expect - I have not always been fit. I had heart surgery in my late twen es - which previously had stopped me being athle c, and then immediately a er that I used to socially drink quite a bit and eat badly. I also worked in a call centre doing a job I really did not like that used to stress me out, I worked with some great people but in reality the junk food vending machine was my best friend - helping me comfort eat through my shi s. One day, my team leader took me to one side and said I was a nice bloke but really needed to do something about the weight I had piled on. That helped put a fire under me and so I bought some running shoes, some weights and taught myself some rudimentary workout rou nes - all at home as I was too embarrassed to go to the gym. 9 months later I went from obese to being able to see my abs. My friends asked me how I did it and so I helped them out with some ps as well as training with them, one friend turned to me and said "You are great at this, you should be a personal trainer" - that was a light bulb moment, so I got the qualifica ons, went self-employed, and never looked back. *Tell us a bit about your new venue - "Sigma Func onal"?

I think it is every trainer's dream to one day have a great space for training and coaching that they can call their own - last year I decided I needed to take that step and the rest is history.

It started as a small converted office but has now grown into a fully renovated 570 square foot facility, a stones throw from Letchworth town centre with a dedicated li ing room, and a separate cardio room. I wanted to create a distrac on-free

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space where I could work with my clients where there are no other gym users or instructors to get under your feet, no loud bad music, and none of other things that can get in your face and compromise a client ge ng their money's worth. Whether you are someone too self conscious to go to a gym or you just like to get in and get some quality work done with a coach then it's for you. I think that last bit is cri cal. *What can people expect when they work with you?

First I want to hear about you and your goals - finding out what success looks like to you - where you want to go, then we assess you to find out where you are in rela on to that - effec vely we are talking your star ng point, next we plot a route from point A to B and try to burst any bubbles that may have formed due to being poorly formed or exposed to any bad informa on. There is a lot of nonsense in the fitness industry that promises quick results that 99.999% of the me are just not possible - so we need to inject some realism into expecta ons. We all do this in an informa ve yet compassionate way, I want you to feel comfortable with everything as if you are you will work harder. Then we get moving - my training will be appropriate to the clients needs and ability, we get your fundamental human movements right and build a base of strength and moving well, as competence increases so does the intensity. Basically one way or another you are going to be working hard - but sanely, smart - but intui vely, and will have your progress constantly assessed to make sure you are staying in line with your goals. In short - if you are general popula on you will end up feeling, looking, and moving more like an athlete; and if you are already an athlete you can expect to be more robust and have be er performance no ma er your sport. *How can people get in touch with you?

I offer a free consulta on/taster session/studio tour to anyone interested in coming and discussing their goals and poten ally working with me.

Just email me on sigma.micro.box@gmail.com and we shall arrange a me. You can also check out my website www.sigmabox.com, and I have an Instagram account

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2020

D of E Knights Templar We are offering students in Year 9 the opportunity to start their Bronze DofE now. The Volunteering, Physical and Skill sec ons can all be worked on now and there are many choices of ac vi es that can be done from home.

Students have been emailed a link to a short film as an introduc on to Bronze DofE. This film has been produced by DofE in the last few weeks to support young people who are star ng their award during the COVID-19 pandemic so signposts ideas for ac vi es that can be done at the moment.

We will also be offering advice over the next few weeks on choosing ac vi es and finding

assessors for students star ng the awards.

We are aware that volunteering opportuni es are a li le more difficult to find at the moment, and are working on some ideas that students will be able to do over the next few months.

Students in year 10 are now able to con nue their DofE journey and start the Silver level of the award.

Please make sure that Volunteering, Physical and Skill sec ons for Bronze level have been completed and approved.

The Silver prac ce expedi on will also be the Bronze qualifying expedi on so students will receive both the Bronze and Silver awards in due course. For more informa on email shammondward@kts.school

OCTOBER

2020

33

ROGERSONS REMOVALS

at Sandon JMI School When we came back to school in September, we wanted our children to have me to se le back into the school community.

We also wanted to improve everyone's fitness levels because we know that exercise can improve wellbeing. Studies have shown that a healthy body leads to increased academic a ainment and improves the immune system which is all important in these mes. It is also, of course, great fun!

Every morning (weather permi ng!) we started to walk around the football pitch and then the children would total the number of laps and work out how many miles we had walked as a class. This enabled children to get to know each other again, share any worries, get fi er and add an element of maths as well.

The children have really enjoyed me outside and we decided to con nue and join the Daily Mile Des na ons campaign, introduced to Her ordshire by the Herts Sports Partnership.

We are hoping to con nue to walk and total our miles whilst travelling to different des na ons. So far, we have travelled from our school, in Sandon, and have reached Stonehenge. We can't wait to go even further; who knows where we might end up!

Class 2 have arrived at Stonehenge, our first des na on.

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LEARN TO CYCLE CLASSES Happy Anniv s y

Wi iam Lots of Love

Louise 1ST Octob

Happy Birthday

Trudy Dungey

Love from Mick, Aaron, Jordan, and Charlie

1st Oct

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Happy 51stBirthday

Nick Woodhall

Lots of Love Sam

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Ti

28th October

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OCTOBER

2020

Learn to cycle classes coming to Baldock Are you or someone you know struggling to grasp how to ride a bike? North Herts District Council (NHDC) and the Healthy Hub are running Learn to Cycle sessions in Letchworth and Baldock later this month.

Coming to Baldock from Saturday 26 September 2020, these one hour 1-to-1 lessons are aimed at helping children, teenagers and adults gain confidence and learn the necessary skills to ride a pedal bike.

Essen al Informa on: ­ COVID-secure safety guidelines have been put into place to make these lessons possible;

A 1 hour lesson costs £15; Par cipants must have a road worthy bike with two working brakes, and a correctly fi ng helmet; ­ If under the age of 16 years old, one parent/carer is required to stay on site for the dura on of the lesson; ­ There will be no access to toilets.

“If you've been unsure about cycling or lacked confidence, now is a good me to try this course”.

Booking is essen al and spaces are limited. For more details, contact Megan Pinner on 01462 474838 or email ac ve@northherts.gov.uk ­ ­

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 Hartseld St Johns St Marys Brandles

01462 620700 01462 895267 01462 892478 01462 892347 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

OCTOBER

2020

37

October Gallery

Please send your local snaps new or old to our facebook page or email info@onourdoorstepbaldock.co.uk

The Orange Tree refurb team taking a well earned break

Autumn pups - Roger Elias

Sunset over the windmill at Cromer - Neil Marsh

Local residents, Pat and John 1st trip to the seaside in 13 years

Matthew Bartlett

Over lockdown 8 year old Joshua Mead and his family erected a new play shed and painted it to look like his very own TARDIS

H-Town Classic & Dub Meet at The Cricketers Weston - Oliver Saville

Weston Way Nursery trees having a haircut

Everyone is wise to wear a sun hat when it gets hot Michael Hall -