Alconbury Nov 2020

VILLAGER The

Issue 102 - November 2020

and Town

Life

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

In this issue The History of

Place Names Travel

Insurance Advice

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Inside this issue...

Making an Entrance

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Getting Fruity..................................................27 Rhubarb, Rhubarb...........................................29 Another Successful Adoptober........................30 First Drive: Volkswagen e-Up...........................33 Québec City.....................................................34 Puzzle Page.....................................................36 Get a good tech deal on Black Friday...............39 Villager Prize Crossword..................................42 The Book Nook................................................45

The History of Place Names...............................4 Drinks: Gin is in.................................................8 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe..........................10 St Francis Children’s Society.............................12 The Boot Edit - House of Colour.......................15 Look and feel your best post lock-down..........17 Life-Saving Memories.....................................18 Travel Insurance Advice...................................23 Making an Entrance........................................24

Québec City

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £30.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Trevor Langley, Nick Coffer, Jennie Billings, EAAA, Katherine Sorrell, Pippa Greenwood, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Solange Hando and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Front Cover Photography - Olga Miltsova Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel: 07762 969460 www.design9marketing.co.uk

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 Email: nigel@villagermag.com www.villagermag.com

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

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History

By Catherine Rose

Edinburgh

The History of Place Names The origin of our village and town names can provide a fascinating insight into their history.

Did you know that the study of place names is called toponomastics? Generally, places have earned their names from the people that founded the settlement, the surrounding landscape, or the flora and fauna that have featured there. Over time, with the evolution of language and through local dialects, place names have changed throughout generations, sometimes becoming quite different versions of what they were hundreds of years ago.

Castle Combe

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The UK has had a varied history, having been home to many conquering invaders and numerous tribes.

Consequently, our modern place names have been contributed to by the Celts, the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and even the French.

We often think of the Romans as having founded our major cities but their Latin names were either based on the existing Old English ones or were so radically different that their use hasn’t survived (for example, the Roman Verulamium for what is now St Albans).

Many people think the word ‘chester’ is Roman but in fact its roots are Celtic. Manchester is derived from the Celtic words mamm meaning ‘a breastshaped hill’ and ceaster – ‘a fortified city’. Most of our current city, town and village names were given to them by our most ancient ancestors.

Tre in a place name denotes a homestead or hamlet and was usually paired with the name of the person who owned it, so Tregare in Wales means ‘Gare’s home’. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their proximity across the Bristol Channel, this prefix is seen even more widely in Cornwall.

Another common Cornish prefix is penn which is a ‘headland’. Penzance is a conjugation of penn and sans which together mean ‘holy headland’.

Like tre, a town or village name ending in by is Old Norse for ‘homestead’. The Vikings are also responsible for place names that begin or end with

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holm. In Old Norse, this meant ‘island’ and usually referred to a settlement surrounded by marsh or water.

Water, especially rivers, features widely in place name origins. For example, Luton is derived from ‘Lea’ after the river that flows through it and tun which is Anglo-Saxon for a large farm or settlement (which probably later evolved into our modern word ‘town’). Another common place name inclusion is ‘ham’. Hamm was Anglo-Saxon for ‘small village’ and is almost certainly the origin of the word ‘hamlet’.

Mor(e) or Mer referred to a ‘lake’ in Old English (mer also means ‘sea’ in French). You can find variations of it in town names such as Cromer and Swanmore.

Numerous places have the word bury in them. This did not refer to a burial plot as it might sound but is the Old English word for a large estate, known by the Anglo-Saxons as a burh. The root has also given rise to towns with ‘borough’ and ‘burgh’ in them.

Stead or sted comes from the Anglo-Saxon word stede for ‘place’ (hence the word ‘homestead’ means ‘place of home’.)

Featured in the town names of Stow, Stowmarket and Stow on the Wold (from wald or weald being the Old English for ‘forest’), a stow was somewhere holy. Less obviously, it also gave Bristol its name as the town was originally called ‘Brigg’s Stow’ meaning ‘the holy place by the bridge’.

The suffix ley signifies a forest clearing and there

are many villages and towns in the UK ending in -ley or -ly that date from a time when our island was covered in woodland. The Viking word was thwaite, seen particularly in the north today.

One interesting suffix is wick or wich. This was the Anglo-Saxon noun for ‘produce’ and was bestowed on a farm with a prefix that told you what it produced. So, for example, Greenwich is said to have originally been an arable farm some distance from London, Woolwich, a sheep farm, while Chiswick would have been a dairy farm (chis being ‘cheese’).

Other Old English words which feature in place names are cott or cote for ‘small house’ (hence our word ‘cottage’), clopp meaning ‘small hill’, combe which referred to ‘a valley’, holt for ‘a wood’, and den which was a pasture, usually for livestock like pigs (not to be confused with the suffix don which comes from the word dun meaning ‘hill’.)

Many of our county names also have ancient origins. For example, ‘Essex’ was the place where the East-Saxons settled (‘East Sax’), ‘Sussex’ the South-Saxons, and Middlesex, which has now been absorbed into Greater London, was where the Middle-Saxons lived. East Anglia was also named from the tribe that once inhabited it, the Angles.

Although today it is difficult to still see their origins, deciphering old place names can give us the strongest clue as to how the landscape must have once looked.

Penzance 6

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YOUR BUSINESS, OUR SAFE HANDS At NFU Mutual Huntingdon we’re about more than just farms, we can cover your business too. Having a local office means we’re never far away if you need us, based just 4 miles from Huntingdon and offering excellent access, parking and facilities.

Have a real conversation about your insurance.

We’re keen to hear from you so please do get in touch.

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N J Parkinson & K M Scotting is an appointed representative of The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982).

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Food & Drink

Drinks: Gin is in

Gin is an extremely popular alcoholic beverage. This flavoured white spirit utilises barley, corn or rye in its distillation and dates from the Middle Ages. The base flavour comes from juniper berries. Different styles of gin are available today, including flavoured variations. Gin cocktails are a regular choice, for numerous ‘devotees’ and the world-renowned ‘Gin & Tonic’ is always a favourite, with many.

Highclere Castle is located approx 5 miles south of Newbury, Hampshire and is home to the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. A lot of very interesting history of this property and grounds is well-documented.

Highclere Castle and the Estate have been used, both internally and externally, for a good number of films and TV productions and known around the world as the fictional setting for the hugely popular production of Downton Abbey. The Estate is very impressive indeed. The Carnarvon family have resided at Highclere Castle since 1679. Royal guests, plus statesmen, famous musicians and celebrities, are all amongst numerous visitors who have been welcomed to this exceptional property and location.

Highclere Castle Gin (Alc. 43.5% Vol.) is multi award-winning and is produced from one of the oldest copper gin stills, dating back to the 19th century, in England’s oldest gin distillery. Very carefully, botanicals, grown on the Highclere Estate, were selected and then after many, many weeks and months of experimenting, finally the selections were chosen for the recipe. The botanicals include essential oils and give Highclere Gin its outstanding, unique, smooth and elegant flavour. Juniper, lavender, coriander, lime flower, citrus peels, angelica root, cassia bark, green cardamom, liquorice root and peppercorns, plus Highclere oats are all included to produce the exquisite production that is Highclere Castle Gin. A phrase I have never used before is, “Try it, to believe it!” On its Own, with Ice, Gin & Tonic, Classic Martini, Negroni, White Lady, or whatever a favourite choice is, I found this gin most certainly did not disappoint – the prestigious awards that keep coming, are testament to that!

Tel: +44 (0) 1635 253 210 E-mail:contact@highclerecastlespirits.com www.highclerecastlegin.com www.highclerecastle.co.uk Highclere Castle Spirits Estate Office, Highclere Park, Newbury, RG20 9RN

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As always, Enjoy!

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Food & Drink

Slow-cooked marinated baby back ribs Cards on the table, I absolutely love ribs. I also have nothing but admiration for anyone who can cook them the “hardcore” way. You know, slowly smoked for hours and hours on a perfectly heated BBQ, perfectly marinated, pulling apart as you eat them. Only problem is, you need about 24 hours notice for that and I just don’t have that kind of organisation in my life. So these are the “it’s 3pm and I fancy ribs this evening” version.

Plus they are baked in the oven, so won’t get spoiled by rain cancelling the BBQ. They are literally foolproof and work however you make the marinade.

You’ll need a large rack of baby back ribs for two people (or one rack per person if you love ribs as much as I do). Ask your butcher to remove the membrane on the back of the ribs if you can.

Store cupboard marinade: Lots of squirts of ketchup, honey, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, a couple of teaspoons garlic powder and a drizzle of xiao xing wine.

Don’t worry about the quantities, and don’t worry if you are missing an ingredient. You just want a lovely, dark and slightly sticky sauce.

1. Rub the ribs all over in the mixed sauce (save a bit of the sauce for later), pop them in a baking dish and cover with foil.

2. Bake them at 130C for 3-4 hours, basting both sides every hour (you will likely need to add a little bit of water to the pan to get the best bits off the bottom).

3. Uncover the ribs for the last 15 minutes and baste with the leftover sauce from earlier.

4. Once cooked, remove and leave to rest, wrapped in foil, for 15 minutes.

5. Cut up and serve. The meat will be falling off the bone.

These are lovely served with a simple coleslaw and corn on the cob.

BBC Three Counties Radio presenter and cook, Nick Coffer 10

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Local News

St Francis Children’s Society In the UK, almost 3,000 children are in need of an adoptive family and the number of adoptions in England has fallen by a third in the last four years.

In response to this fall in numbers, Milton Keynes adoption agency St. Francis’ Children’s Society has joined the national #YouCanAdopt campaign, which aims to bust some of the myths around who is eligible to adopt.

Earlier this year, a new report revealed that 45% of adults in the UK have considered adoption or would consider it in future. But, despite this, 62% of adults feel they don’t know much about the adoption process - and this lack of knowledge may contribute to many people not taking the important first step.

With 40% of people admitting they don’t know if they’re eligible to adopt and 29% thinking they wouldn’t be able to, St. Francis’ Children’s Society (SFCS) is aiming to increase the number of people taking the first steps towards adopting a child.

You can adopt if you’re married, in a long-term relationship or single. You could be heterosexual or LGBT+, it doesn’t matter. In fact, 1 in 7 adoptions in England in 2019 were to same-sex couples. You may be hoping to adopt your first child, or you may already have birth or adopted children in your family.

Adopters can be of any or no religious faith. Children who are waiting for adoption come from many different backgrounds, cultures and religions, and SFCS accordingly welcomes adopters from all walks of life.

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You don’t need to own your own home or be ‘rich’ to adopt. Your financial stability and money-management abilities will be discussed during the adoption assessment, but being unemployed, on a low income or on benefits will not automatically rule you out from becoming an adoptive parent.

Having a disability or a mental health condition won’t automatically exclude you from adopting a child either. Any health condition, mental or physical, will be explored fully to help us understand any issues you may experience with parenting a child. But don’t rule yourself out before speaking to one of our friendly team of social workers.

St. Francis’ Children’s Society is proud to support the #YouCanAdopt campaign, which will be running until the beginning of December 2020. You can find lots more information about who can adopt by searching #YouCanAdopt on Google, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Singer Sinitta is one of several adopters who are backing the campaign. The mum of two said: “I would definitely encourage others to consider adoption.

The feeling of finally becoming a mother was almost indescribable; it’s just everything. It was everything I wanted and more. I love my children more than anything and I always say that love is thicker than blood.”

If you can provide a safe, stable, loving home for a child or children who need it, the chances are #YouCanAdopt. Visit www.sfcs.org.uk and click on I’d Like To Adopt to learn more and begin your journey towards growing your family.

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House of Colour

The Boot Edit

The shops are full of a real range of boots this season – sleek and sophisticated to heavy and chunky options. You may even already have something at home which will is still really current. Here’s my guide to your options this season – what to look out for and how you might wear them.

Chunky soled heavy boot – form the hiking inspired to the Dr Martin and clog, there is a wide variety of heavier options out there. This is very much carrying through the utility trend we’ve seen last season.

They can work with the cut off jean, wide legged and the Mom jean options but for some people they’re going to work really well with a midi dress. If you’re drawn to clothes with a natural distressed look some chunky soled boots could be your thing.

Sleek sharp and pointed – The cowboy boot has been given a sleeker upgrade this season. They have retained their point but have added angles at the heel often with a shiner finish to the leather. Marks and Spencer and Zara have options. The low heeled ankle boot with block heel (quite a sixties feel to it) continues into this season from last again with patent finish. All these work well with the clean lines in comfort tailoring trends we’re seeing but also act as a nice contrast with softer fabrics.

Heeled knee – high - Continuing some seventies inspired looks the heeled knee high is definitely making an entrance this season. Some with a slouchy suede and some with rich leather, cone heel and a vintage feel. Works well with the just below the knee lengths and longer looks in hems we’re seeing.

The look doesn’t always require a close fit to the calf making them an easier option for those who struggle to get the right leg fit. If you need clothes the flow and movement these will work well for you. Check out Clarks and Dune.

Luxurious fabrics – some patterns, kitten heels in velours are also to be found, even with embellishments. A great way to update an existing look and will add the glamour to some clothing personalities.

N.B. Tights – some interesting colours in Heist and Snag. If you already have a lot of colour in your wardrobe opt for your best neutrals.

Article by Jennie Billings House of Colour House of Colour has a network of stylists to help you update your look.

Find your nearest at houseofcolour.co.uk/find-a-stylist

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Local News

Look and feel your best post lockdown Are you in need of a confidence boost after life in lockdown?

Jolique Facial Rejuvenation Clinic provides non-surgical solutions to improve and maintain the appearance of your skin, helping you to look and feel younger.

The clinic, which has been open since June, is part of Buckden Dental Clinic and is owned and managed by Georgina O’Callaghan, who has been a dentist for over 20 years and has special interests and expertise in facial rejuvenation.

The clinic offers a range of services, including wrinkle reducing treatment, derma fillers, mirco-needling, lip enhancements, skin boosters, laser treatment, anti-sweating treatment, and jaw slimming. They also offer the Obagi medical skincare range which helps to reduce the aging process, as well as the illumifacial treatment which improves the appearance and feel of skin.

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Local News

Life-Saving Memories As East Anglian Air Ambulance continues to mark its 20th anniversary, we share with you some memories from supporters who have benefitted from its vital work.

Megan from Cambridge I used to be a fundraising intern at EAAA and loved it!

Recently they came out to my aunty who had a burst brain aneurysm and if they hadn’t of got to her as quickly as they did, she would not be alive today! She’s currently in rehab and will be for a long time but she’s making progress. I really can’t thank EAAA enough for what they do!

Sue from Cambridgeshire My memory is of the EAAA Crew from Cambridge stabilising my condition and getting me to Addenbrooke’s Hospital so that I can be here today. I might have lost part of an arm but thanks to EAAA, I am alive. This is why I support EAAA and will continue to do so for as long as I can.

Judy from Fowlmere On the 3rd February 2014 I had a cardiac arrest while at home. I was helping my eight-year-old daughter with her homework and had only just returned from work.

My husband, on calling 999, performed CPR for 12 minutes while awaiting an ambulance. The EAAA team by road attended first and without their intervention, I literally would not be here today retelling my memory.

Not forgetting how proud I am of my husband, too, he is also my hero!

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Lucy from Willingham On 8 November 2019 the crew were called out to my husband who had dislocated his hip and broken his femur. He was in considerable pain and the doctor had to administer ketamine before he could move him.

It was incredibly traumatic but also a crazy couple of hours as my husband was treated on the kitchen floor.

The crew were amazing with him and with me. Sadly, my husband passed away three weeks later from the cancer that had metastasised in his bones. I will never forget or thank enough the amazing team that helped us through that day.

Maria from Weston Colville I fell off a horse on Dec 1st 2011. I knew immediately that it was bad as I couldn’t feel anything below my neck. I will never forget the care I was given with such professionalism by the crew that day. To extract me from a ditch without moving my spine, in a lot of mud, must have been very difficult, but done so quietly and calmly. I spent a long time recovering, but I got my life back. I am eternally grateful to EAAA for all you do. I often see EAAA flying over my village and always wave!

Get involved and help EAAA save lives • Support EAAA by playing the 20th anniversary raffle, with 15 prizes up for grabs at just £1 per ticket eaaaraffle.org • Leave EAAA your memory and find out more about the history of the service at eaaa.org.uk/20years • Sign up to play in the EAAA weekly lottery, which funds 45% of EAAA’s life-saving missions at www.eaaa.org.uk/shout

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At Oakleigh Residential Home we take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of care for our residents. Our home is set out in large gardens with easy access, 24 bright and comfortable, single-occupancy rooms and in-house cooks who create appetising and varied menu’s.

01480 890248 stonnell.oakleigh@outlook.com 22 North Road, Alconbury Weston, Huntingdon, PE28 4JR.

We provide 24 hour care and can accommodate clients who require dementia care.

www.oakleighresidentailhome.co.uk ESTABLISHED AND TRUSTED SINCE 1988 Oakleigh Residential half page.indd 1 To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

05/12/2016 11:03 19

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Travel Insurance Advice

As thoughts turn to holidays in 2021, the issue of travel insurance has never been more complicated.

The disruption from COVID-19 led many travellers to discover their policy wasn’t quite as comprehensive as they assumed.

With local lockdowns, travel bans and quarantine an ever-changing situation in recent months, all too many people have found planned trips either impossible or no longer quite what they expected.

If you’ve got an annual policy, your first step should be checking the date the policy began. The precise details will vary between insurers, but as a general rule any ordinary policy taken out after the start of April 2020 will almost certainly exclude any claims related to COVID-19.

Instead, you’ll need to look for a policy that specifically covers coronavirus. Most such policies will only cover the medical effects, though a few policies will also cover cancellation.

Whether you are relying on a pre-April 2020 policy or take out a new one that includes COVID-19 cancellation, check the conditions that will trigger a payout. Some policies will only cover you getting COVID-19 while some will pay out if a family member gets it. Some will only cover a positive diagnosis while others will cover cases where you are told to self-isolate, for example because you’ve been in close contact with somebody who has tested positive.

Coronavirus has also brought much greater attention to Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advisories, something that’s normally only been an issue for people travelling to far-off war-torn nations.

At the time of writing, the FCO still had a default position advising against any non-essential travel to any country that wasn’t specifically exempted.

Finance

If you do travel to a country that’s under such an advisory, your insurance is automatically invalid.

However, a travel insurance policy almost certainly won’t cover you cancelling a trip because the FCO advice has changed.

If you decide against travel altogether, you can usually cancel an ongoing annual policy and get a refund in proportion to the remaining time, minus any administrative fee. This won’t be allowed if you’ve already made a claim on the policy during the cover period, for example from a previous trip.

Despite the increased limitations, travel insurance may soon be even more important in Europe. At the time of writing, the UK and the European Union had yet to agree an extension of the UK’s participation in the European Health Identity Card program beyond the end of 2020.

The EHIC isn’t insurance, but rather a mutual agreement that covers European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Anyone with an EHIC is entitled to medical treatment on the same basis as residents of the country where they fall ill.

EHIC has never been a substitute for travel insurance, as it doesn’t cover disruption from illness or injury such as having to rebook flights home. However, if the UK does leave EHIC, travelling to the continent without travel insurance could lead to hefty medical bills even for basic treatment.

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Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

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Making an Entrance Your hallway needs to be a good-looking, welcoming space for visitors and a practical area for storage. Get the basics right, says Katherine Sorrell, and the rest will follow.

Colour and pattern for the walls Choose a paint colour or wallpaper that you love, and that coordinates with the colours that can be seen in adjoining rooms. While pale colours reflect light and emphasise a sense of space, dark schemes can be both cosy and interesting.

In busy households with young children and pets, it’s a good idea to protect at least the lower halves of the walls from wear and tear. Extra-tough paint is a good choice, or consider adding a dado rail and cladding the walls below it with tongueand-groove panelling, tiles or hard-wearing vinyl wallpaper. Period-style patterned tiles or embossed wallpapers are particularly appropriate for older properties with period features; you might want to choose patterns that echo other elements of the house, such as cornices or fireplace surrounds.

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Choosing the right flooring It makes sense for the flooring to be durable, nonslip, dirt-resistant and easy to keep clean – pale carpet is probably not a good idea. So, what to choose? Tiles are very easy to care for, and there are various options, including stone, ceramic or quarry, or colourful Victorian encaustic (perfect for period properties). Floorboards or parquet will need regular polishing or waxing, but be careful with wood laminates – they are cheaper, but may not last long. Good quality vinyl flooring, in sheet or tile form is sturdy, cleanable and comfortable underfoot. If you prefer a more luxurious feel, a dark wool carpet in an 80:20 mix of wool and nylon with a twist pile should withstand heavy usage or, for a more rustic look, how about tough natural matting such as coir, sisal or rush?

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Lighting makes all the difference Halls are often windowless and dark and, while they do not need to be very bright, should be welcoming and lead the eye into your home, as well as safely illuminating any steps or thresholds. One small change that may help is to use a specialist light-reflecting paint, or wallpaper with a metallic sheen. Add a large mirror, too – also helpful for checking your reflection just before you leave the house. In terms of light fittings, wall lights are not ideal in a narrow hall, as they may just act as obstacles; a series of recessed ceiling downlights is better or, if your ceilings are high enough, a pendant (or a row of them) that suits the style of other furnishings works well.

Storage is essential Most people store a variety of things in their halls and the type of storage you choose is best moulded around what you need to store, how much space it will take up and how frequently you need to access it. Built-in storage makes the most of every inch of space. Shallow, floor-to-ceiling

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3 cupboards with doors painted the same colour as the walls, or mirrored to maximise light, will hold masses yet be barely noticeable. Alternatively, make a statement with a choice of free-standing, perhaps vintage or upcycled, cupboards, sideboards or benches. Umbrella stands, dog beds and boot racks are ideal for spacious, country-style halls, while narrow, urban halls might benefit from a high-up hook for a bike and a slim shelf above a radiator on which to keep post and keys.

Add a finishing touch In a hall that has windows, think about how your blinds or curtains will complement the rest of the space. The colours and patterns of fabric can coordinate with cushions or upholstery on seating, for example. A long, thin floor runner adds a nice touch of softness, pattern and texture on hard floors but always use a non-slip underlay beneath.

Hang paintings or photographs on the walls, in rows or informal groupings, taking care that their frames coordinate with each other and with the décor overall. Finally, why not add some plants, books or a pretty lamp on a console table? You can create a beautiful display that shows off your personality and creates a lovely welcome to your home.

1 In a spacious hallway, more than one item of storage furniture will work a treat. They don’t have to match exactly – this pairing helps create a welcoming, eclectic look that has heaps of character. Wiltshire console table in natural solid oak, £299.99, St Ives tallboy in natural and painted oak, £299.99; both Oak Furnitureland: 0800 440 2254; oakfurnitureland.co.uk.

2 A spacious sideboard is an excellent addition to any hall, combining hidden storage and surface display space.

This one blends pale timber with classic black for a smart and minimal look. Greenwich large sideboard, £229, Nala mango wood table lamp, £25; Butterscotch rush basket, £22; all Dunelm: 0345 165 6565; dunelm.com.

3 A pale wood floor is practical and beautiful, and tongue-and-groove walls are easy to maintain in case of muddy splashes. Tegola Westminster traditional oak wood flooring, £49.99 per square metre; natural coir Bee doormat, £15; both Carpetright: 0330 333 3444; carpetright.co.uk.

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Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

Getting Fruity You can grow fruit in your garden even when short on space, by making the fruit work in more ways than one and making the best use of their good looks. At this time of year the widest selection of fruit plants is available from specialist fruit nurseries as ‘bare root’ plants, and this is also the perfect time to plant fruit.

A simple metal arch can be used to train tree fruit such as apples or pears up the sides and over the top. For perfect pollination (and maximum crops), plant two different apples in the same pollination group on each side of the arch. You can use cordon apples or simple ‘whips’ (straight stems). A good fruit tree nursery will be able to advise on the best combinations.

Cherries can do surprisingly well in a large pots, planters or a wooden half-barrel. The combination of their lovely white spring blossom and tasty summer fruit makes then an attractive plant for a sunny, sheltered patio or back yard. Choose a cherry on a ‘dwarfing rootstock’ such as Gisela 5 to ensure it does not get too big.

There are many types of fruit that take up extremely little space, such as Ballerina apples; alternatively, train cordon apples or pears vertically and spaced 6090cm (2-3ft) apart to form columnar trees. Prune the fruiting laterals in summer and restrict the tree height to 1.8-2.4m (6-8ft).

Ideal for the front of a vegetable plot or a flower border, a stepover is trained to form one ‘arm’ of fruit to the left and one to the right, generally about

45cm (18ins) above ground level (hence the name); you can buy these ready-trained.

Vines can produce a good crop in the UK in a sheltered, sunny spot. They can be trained up walls or over a pergola to create shade. Many have fabulous autumnal colours.

There are peach varieties nowadays that grow well and produce a worthwhile crop. Avalon is recommended for its ability to crop if you have space, but there are several varieties available on sufficiently dwarfing root stocks that do well in good-sized containers. Peach Bonanza grafted on to a St Julien rootstock is compact, has attractive pink blossom and, despite its dwarf size, produces fullsized fruit.

Hybrid berries can also be trained over arches to form shade and a delicious crop – I recommend loosely tying them to a chunky wooden arch. You can then enjoy the flowers followed by the rich good looks of the fruit.

Strawberries in pots can crop heavily if kept well fed and watered. Either plant them into a large pot or container full of good quality compost, or use a strawberry planter with individual planting holes into each of which a strawberry plant is placed. It looks good and makes it harder for slugs and snails to get to the fruit!

Visit Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) to book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club or as an after-dinner speaker.

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Rhubarb Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a reasonably easy trouble-free plant to grow. It is also a handsome plant, with large leaves and striking red stems, and who doesn’t love a rhubarb crumble?

The trick is to choose the right spot. Ideally it needs to be planted in full sun but if your garden is very sheltered it will tolerate partial shade. Don’t plant it anywhere where it might be in the way, disturbed, or need to be moved from. Rhubarb has an extensive root system and prefers to stay put, for at least a decade, so give careful thought to the spot.

Rhubarb dislikes wet soil, so make sure it’s welldrained. Dig in plenty of organic matter a month or so before planting. It’s generally easier and more productive to grow rhubarb from crowns (divided plants) rather than seed, and from now until Christmas is the perfect time to plant.

Dig a hole a little wider than the rhubarb crown in your prepared ground. Plant so that the growing tip is about an inch /2.5 cm below the surface. Firm the soil well around the roots to removed air pockets.

Water well and mulch with organic matter, avoiding the growing tip.

During the growing season keep the area around the plant free of weeds and give an occasional good soaking in prolonged dry periods. Remove any flower heads that appear in the spring. Flowering will

weaken the stems. If the crown rots, your soil was too wet, but following all the advice I’ve given earlier should prevent this happening! Harvest time is May until July, but rhubarb is a long-term investment so don’t harvest it during the first year. It needs that full first year of growth to establish a strong root system.

Second year leave at least five strong stems when you harvest. After that you can leave three or four stems each time. You should get 2-3 crops per season.

Remove only the largest stems when picking and wait till the leaves have fully opened. Pull gently from the base with a slight twist. The leaves are poisonous but can be safely composted.

Once your rhubarb is established you might want to try a forced crop for sweeter more tender stems.

Rhubarb is forced by growing it in the absence of light in a microclimate slightly warmer than the outside temperature. You can start forcing in January for best results. Remove dead leaves and weeds from around the crown and add a layer of straw or shredded paper to warm the emerging shoots and to protect them from frost. Then cover the crown with an upturned dustbin or large crock pot to cut out all the light. The rhubarb should be ready for harvesting 8 weeks later.

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Pets

Another Successful Adoptober As Adoptober draws to a close we reflect upon the true magic of this service. With online searches for puppies tripling, adoption is an amazing solution.

Adopting a dog or cat as a family pet is becoming much more common as people are finding out the many advantages it has over buying a kitten or puppy.

New owners are becoming much more scrupulous about the history and background of the animals they welcome into their lives. The large majority of cats and dogs that are part of the adoption scheme are there as a result of a house move, death or divorce. Not because they have behaviour problems or were stray.

Many people are attracted to adoption for this reason, and the idea of giving the animals a second chance.

Why Adopt?

1) A second chance – you are giving a second chance to a much loved pet by adopting one rather than buying one. RSPCA shelters are bursting with happy and healthy pets, ready for their next new home.

2) Happy and healthy pets – you would be rehoming a happy and healthy pet that is already house trained and used to living with a family.

3) The cost – getting a new pet can be more expensive than you had originally anticipated. The prices of kittens and puppies are still on the rise, with popular dog breeds fetching £3000 each. Not only is the animal cheaper from a shelter, other expenses are often free. Most shelters spay, neuter and vaccinate all animals reducing the cost of having a pet even further.

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4) Having an older pet through the adoption service has plenty of advantages. It does eliminate the need to go to puppy training classes each week, paying for microchipping, training them to go to the toilet in the correct way.

5) You are helping more than one animal. By giving money to the rehoming centre you are giving help to all of the animals within the centre. Also, by adopting an animal you are making room for another animal to come into the centre.

Advantages of Having a Pet Where to begin. There are numerous benefits to having a pet, whatever the age, shape or size. Having a pet can be an exciting adventure, be it a cat, dog, hamster or rabbit. They have several health benefits including; reducing stress, decreasing loneliness, helping to raise activity levels and improving ones immune system. According to studies spending time with your pet can increase levels of oxytocin in your body, as well as lowering your blood pressure.

Pets can help you to find and make friends. It’s amazing how many people you can end up talking to as you take your dog for a walk. Or even while you are in the pet shop buying hamster bedding. Pets are always such a great talking point at work and in turn help you to socialise.

Pets are great for children. They can boost their confidence and skills of empathy. Pets are wonderful listeners and can help children to feel safe. Animals teach children how to be responsible, as they can help to feed, clean and walk their pets.

So, if you, a friend or family member are considering making the decision to be a pet owner – consider adoption – consider the RSPCA. If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact; 0300 1234 999.

Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.

Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

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Motoring

First Drive: Volkswagen e-Up!

Volkswagen has improved its electric e-Up! Jack Evans finds out how.

What is it?

In the race to gain EV supremacy, it seems that many manufacturers have forgotten that often the best application of electric technology is in smaller city cars – such as Volkswagen’s new e-Up! EV, which has been given bigger batteries to improve that allimportant range.

What’s new?

The exterior of the e-Up! doesn’t look particularly different from the car it replaces, with the bulk of the changes being under the skin. As well as boosting the battery count to improve range, VW has added the ability to fast-charge the car.

What’s under the bonnet?

The e-Up! has an electric motor linked to a 32.3kWh battery. Power reaches the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox, and in total it pushes out 80.5bhp and a healthy 210Nm of torque.

The e-Up takes 11.6 seconds from 0-60mph with a maximum speed of 81mph, with a claimed 159 miles between charges. Combined charging system technology gives an 80 per cent charge in just an hour from zero, via a 40kW DC charger. A standard domestic wall box takes four hours, while using a three-pin plug needs around 16 hours for a full charge.

What’s it like to drive?

The e-Up! is fun to drive, with the zippy acceleration you only get from an EV. The steering and the ride are good too.

It’s nimble around town and unflustered even at higher motorway speeds.

How does it look?

We like the undercover looks of the e-Up! Slim LED running lights up front help differentiate it, while the charging port is where you’d usually find the filler cap.

The compact proportions lend the Up! to town driving and it’s a doddle to park. It’s conservatively styled for an electric vehicle but this should appeal to many.

What’s it like inside?

The cabin of the e-Up! is business as usual. The forward part of the interior feels uncluttered, the steering wheel has plenty of adjustment, the seats are comfortable and forward visibility is good.

Our five-door model granted easy access to the rear of the car and had adequate rear legroom, though headroom is limited for very tall passengers.

What’s the spec like?

Our test car came in at a reasonable £20,555 after the government’s plug-in car grant. Cruise control, parking sensors at both front and rear and a rear-view camera are standard, while a five-inch colour touchscreen system houses Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio.

Volkswagen includes a 16amp charging cable for use at wall boxes and charge points, and a 10amp cable for mains charging.

Verdict The plucky e-Up! has hit the nail on the head, and with around 150 miles per charge offers a genuinely usable range. The ability to fast charge means much shorter wait times if you do need to plug in.

Most importantly, however, the e-Up! is fun, and that’s certainly an aspect that many EVs have missed from the process of driving.

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Travel

Québec City

By Solange Hando

In 1534 French explorer Jacques Cartier planted a cross on the shores of Gaspé Bay, claiming the land for his king. But for seventy years or so the ‘New France’ was a distant dream, until Samuel de Champlain set up a trading post along the ‘Kebec’, the ‘narrowing waters’ of the St Lawrence River. Rival settlers soon brought ongoing conflict and, on the strategic Diamond Cape high above the river, the so-called ‘Gibraltar of Canada’ fell to English rule in 1759. Today sprinkled with English traditions yet fiercely loyal to its French roots, language included, the provincial capital is hailed as one of the most attractive cities on the continent.

On the Plains of Abraham where the final battle took place, history is recalled among quiet groves and picnic spots. Just a stroll away the Grande Allée is an elegant tree-lined boulevard, nicknamed Champs-Elysées, while on Parliament Hill the National Assembly sits in an opulent building, in French Renaissance style, topped by a lofty tower.

The nearby St Louis’ gate leads into the Vieux Québec, the only remaining walled city in North America.

First there’s the Upper Town gathered around the Chateau Frontenac, bristling with tower, turrets and copper roof. Now a nostalgic century-old hotel, it welcomes royalty, leaders and stars close to the site where French governors resided. Meanwhile, visitors stroll along the Dufferin Terrace, a magical place with glorious river views and the joyful ambience of musicians and artists. You find historic buildings and

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statues, among them Champlain who founded the city in 1608, a 350-year-old cathedral, a Holy Trinity modelled on St-Martin-in-the-Fields and a UNESCO monument celebrating the title granted in 1985 to the first North American city. Ride a horse-drawn carriage or explore on foot and you discover neat stone houses with pastel frames, fleur-de-lys on the blue Québec flag and myriad treasures hidden in the lanes. Next, wander around the citadel that took over thirty years to complete. The 22nd Royal Regiment still parades on the grounds, very Englishlike in red tunics and bearskin hats.

The Lower Town beckons down steep slopes and ‘Breakneck Stairs’ or a short scenic ride in the old funicular, gazing at dormer windows and rooftops, a cruise ship or two below the cape and ferries sailing across the river. The rail track ends in the former house of Mississippi explorer, Louis Jolliet, in the delightful district of Petit-Champlain. Once the humble home of artisans and traders, it’s a bustling little place with winding lanes and pretty squares glistening with cobbles, peppered with French bakeries, outdoor cafés, restaurants and boutiques full of arts and craft. Just down the road, a lovely promenade invites walkers and cyclists to enjoy the old port and the quiet marina behind the lock. But most breathtaking is the harbour cruise with costumed guide, revealing the bucolic Orleans Island, the sparkling Montmorency Falls and the city’s historic skyline mirrored like a fairy tale in the great St Lawrence on its way to the ocean.

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Sudoku

Hard Sudoku

Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3x3 box, contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition. Use your logic to solve the puzzles.

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Technology

Get a good tech deal on Black Friday For tech shoppers, November is Gadget Christmas. That’s because the last Friday of the month, the 27th of November, is Black Friday. Black Friday is when online shops and many high street retailers offer amazing discounts on all kinds of products. And the discounts can be massive, with hundreds of pounds off high-end laptops, big TVs and other bigticket purchases.

The name Black Friday is a little misleading because many of the retailers now run deals the week leading up to Black Friday and/or the week after.

Many of the deals are genuine, but it’s important to do a little homework because some of them are a little creative.

Some deals are rather like the supermarket wine promotions where the price of a £6 bottle of wine is briefly raised to £9; the shop then goes back to the original price and sticks a ‘Save £3.00!’ sticker on it. In tech, the same thing can happen with prices going up just before Black Friday to create a discount that isn’t really a discount.

Another common trick is to quote a recommended retail price that nobody sensible ever paid. For example, a TV supposedly reduced from £1,799 to £999 may well have been on sale for £1,099 for the last six months. You’re still getting a saving, but it’s not as exciting as the shop wants you to think.

Technology can help here. Use Pricespy. co.uk to see what other retailers are charging for the same product, and for Amazon deals use CamelCamelCamel. com to look at a product’s Amazon price history to see if a deal is good or just too good to be true.

As with any sale, don’t let the prospect of a big discount persuade you to buy something you don’t want or need, and if you pay by credit card make sure you pay it off as soon as you can. The interest on some cards can easily wipe out your Black Friday savings.

Xbox One X Expect big discounts on Microsoft’s superb console and Sony’s PS4 too: as their replacements are imminent there will be big savings to be had, especially on bundles with included games.

Usually £395, www.xbox.com Instant Pot We love the Instant Pot, a programmable electric pressure cooker that’s brilliant for soups, stews, chilli, curries, rice and pretty much anything else you can cook in a pot. It’s usually Amazon’s Black Friday bestseller.

Usually £84, www.amazon.co.uk

Philips Ambilight TV There are always great Black Friday discounts on smart TVs, and some of the biggest we’ve seen were on Philips’ clever Ambilight range, which uses coloured light to make the room match what’s on screen.

Various prices, www.philips.co.uk Amazon Echo Amazon’s smart speakers get discounted for every Amazon sale event and Black Friday is no exception. The third-generation Echo delivers surprisingly great sound despite its compact dimensions.

Usually £89, www.amazon.co.uk Big-name laptops If you’ve been looking for a new laptop, you’ll see some great deals on laptops from big names such as Microsoft, ASUS and Lenovo.

Some of the best discounts are on the most expensive models but you’ll find good budget deals too.

Various prices, www.currys.co.uk

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Crossword Solution for The Villager October Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Martin Cooper - Biggleswade

October’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions

Easy

Hard

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Complete the crossword, fill in your details below, cut out this page and send to the address below before

16th November 2020 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Ten years (6) 4 Pictures (6) 9 Level high land (7) 10 Tag (5) 11 Poem (5) 12 Selections (7) 13 Demolition (11) 18 Pharmacist (7) 20 Perfect (5) 22 Spoils (5) 23 Against (7) 24 Scale (6) 25 Grown ups (6) Down 1 Leave (6) 2 Absurd (5) 3 Lowest (7) 5 Greeting (5) 6 Used for smoking (7) 7 Spatter (6) 8 Commas, colons. (11) 14 Dusk (7) 15 Stumbled (7) 16 Afraid (6) 17 Play equipment (6) 19 Edition (5) 21 Artists frame (5)

Name:

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PLUMBING•HEATING

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Books

The Book Nook

By Kate Duggan

From historical fiction to dystopian literature plus new releases to older books that deserve more attention, there’s plenty to get your teeth stuck into this month.

The Midnight Library

By Matt Haig

Nora’s overdose doesn’t result in, as she’d hoped, nothingness.

Instead, she’s transported to the Midnight Library, where she gets the chance to try the other lives she could have led if she’d made different choices.

As she faces her regrets (from not marrying to not becoming an Olympic swimmer), Nora discovers that the path not taken isn’t always the panacea she thinks it is.

A Room Made of Leaves

By Kate Grenville

A Room Made of Leaves is the fictionalised account of a real woman’s life – Elizabeth Macarthur. It’s set in the late eighteenth century. Women had few prospects beyond marriage, so when Elizabeth marries the cold, ambitious John Macarthur she has little choice but to follow him wherever he decides to go, even if that’s to the other side of the world to live in a new settlement in Australia. A must for historical fiction fans.

A Song for the Dark Times

By Ian Rankin

Rebus is back, but this time it’s personal: his son-in-law is missing. Rebus heads out to solve the mystery. His daughter seems to be the obvious main suspect, so which role will Rebus prioritise – detective or father? Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, DI Siobhan Clarke is on her own case, that of the murder of a wealthy Saudi student. These two very different cases may turn out to be part of the same tangled web. A Song for the Dark Times is a gripping crime thriller with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages.

Gather the Daughters

by Jennie Melamed

On the island, girls are little more than wives-in-training – following the decrees of the founding ancestors and submitting to every demand of their fathers. They have one brief period of freedom over the summer, when they live wild and do as they please. The summers are shortlived, and the girls know that they’re destined to be married once they hit puberty. But one day they decide to take back their freedom, at whatever cost. Gather the Daughters is pretty disturbing and there are a lot of triggers, but as dystopian literature goes, it’s one that will stick with you for a very long time.

Little Fires Everywhere

By Celeste Ng

Whether you’ve watched the Amazon Prime series or not, the book is well worth a read.

To the outsider, Shaker Heights seems like the perfect town.

And no one is more perfect than Elena Richardson. Her daughter Izzy, on the other hand, is impetuous and disinclined to follow the rigid path laid down by her mother. When artist Mia Warren arrives on the scene with her daughter Pearl, the fragility of a ‘perfect’ life becomes all too apparent. A many-layered read about motherhood, secrets, race and the many nuances of right and wrong.

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