Alconbury dec 17

VILLAGER The

Issue 69 - December 2017

and Town

Life

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

Win £100 in our Christmas Prize Crossword

In this issue The History of Clowns Win tickets to see the

Best of Wham Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

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Contents Win Tickets

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VILLAGER The

Issue 69 - December 2017

and Town

Life

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

Win £100 in our Christmas Prize Crossword

In this issue The History of Clowns Win tickets to see the

Best of Wham Bringing Local Business to Local People in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys and all surrounding areas every month

ur Yo EE FRcopy

Children’s Page...............................................................30 Seasonal Delights...........................................................33 The History of Christmas Decorations.............................34 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 What’s On in December..................................................38 Fun Quiz.........................................................................41 £100 Prize Crossword.....................................................42 Beer and Festive Food....................................................44 Book Review..................................................................47

The History of Clowns.......................................................4 Let it Snow!......................................................................8 Choice Wines: France......................................................10 Win Ticket to see The Best of Wham...............................12 Quirky Britain.................................................................15 How to Plan for the Boxing Day Sales.............................18 Employment Matters.....................................................22 Looking Ahead...............................................................24 Plan Like a Holiday.........................................................25 The Christmas Wreath....................................................26 Animal Stories................................................................29

The Christmas Wreath

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11,000 copies delivered free of charge in the following areas: Abbots Ripton, Alconbury, Brington, Buckworth, Bythorn, Catworth, Covington, Dillington, Grafham, Great Staughton, Hail Weston, Keyston, Kimbolton, Kings Ripton, Leighton Bromswold, Little Staughton, Lower Dean, Molesworth, Old Weston, Perry, Pertenhall, Ramsey, Riseley, Sawtry, Shelton, Stonley, Stow Longa, Swineshead, The Stukeleys, Tillbrook, Upper Dean and Warboys (We also have over 150 distribution points, including pubs, garages, most shops, post offices, Supermarket Chains in all of the above as well as in Huntingdon, Lt Staughton, Grafham Water Visitor Centre’s and Kimbolton)

Editorial - Catherine Rose, Monica Cox, Trevor Langley, Jennie Billings, Carol H Scott, Sally Power, Tony Larkins, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, There’s a Beer for That, and Kate Duggan Advertising Sales/Local Editorial

Nigel Frost - 01767 261122

nigel@villagermag.com

Photography Darren Harbar Photography Design and Artwork - Design 9 Tel 07762 969460

Publishers Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP Tel: 01767 261122 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.

Advert Booking and Artwork Deadline: Thursday 7th December for our JANUARY edition

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History

The History of

Clowns

Love them, loathe them or view them with terror, clowns have been entertaining us for thousands of years. Renowned for humour, with the recent relaunch of Stephen King’s horror classic It and his demonic antagonist Pennywise, clowns have become a scare symbol too. But where did they originate?

Clowns began with royalty and across history and cultures, royal courts have long featured court jesters. The earliest recorded were in ancient Egypt during the fifth dynasty (around 2500BC).

Clowns were even prominent in native tribes and formed an integral part of their social and religious ceremonies. Not only did they provide entertainment, they were also believed to be healers and counsellors. When the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés overthrew central America’s Aztecs in 1520, it was said that the Aztec king Montezuma’s court had dwarf and hunchback clowns whom Cortés took back to Spain with him.

Despite being an object of ridicule, court jesters were in fact highly thought of and the only members of a royal household permitted to openly air their views. When China’s Great Wall was being built around 300BC, Emperor Shih Huang-Ti decided he wanted it painted as well. Hundreds of labourers had already lost their lives constructing the wall but it was his court jester Yu Sze who persuaded the emperor to abandon the painting idea, saving hundreds more lives.

Although rustic fools appear in Ancient Greek and Roman plays, during the 16th century clowns increasingly moved out of the court and into the theatre. Shakespeare often featured ‘the fool’ in his plays. These characters were integral to the play and actors would frequently ad lib for comic effect during performances.

It was around this time that the Commedia del Arte, a structured form of comedy theatre with

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set characters, began in Italy. It quickly spread across Europe and heralded the advent of the pantomime.

The set characters consisted of three servants who would plot to trick their masters. The principal servant or first zanni (which gave us the word ‘zany’) was the modern day ‘straight guy’ who would come up with the clever schemes; his helper, the second zanni was a witless fool or ‘fall guy’ who would become hilariously entangled in them, often either unintentionally thwarting them or ending up being a victim himself, and the third character was the female fonteca who provided the romantic interest.

The clown-like characters of Harlequin and Pierrot grew out of Commedia del Arte. Harlequin was originally the second zanni to a character named Brighella but eventually he grew to become a principal character of his own.

The white-faced clown began with Pierrot but was popularised by Joseph ‘Joey’ Grimaldi (1778-1837) who has been described as ‘the father of modern clowning’. He was well known for his comic songs and theatrical special effects. Wearing a spiky blue wig with white make-up and rouge on his cheeks and lips, his costume was a variation of the Harlequin suit with its trademark ruffles around the neck – a clothing item that has been associated with clowns ever since.

The first circus was created in 1768

by Philip Astley and his equestrian shows that took place in a ring.

It was Astley who created the first circus clown, calling him Billy Buttons. Billy Buttons’ character was a tailor who, in his act, would try and fail to ride a horse in amusing ways.

Billy proved so popular among audiences that he soon became a feature in other circus acts.

This led to the development of the Auguste (or fool) clown, a forerunner of our modern-day clown, who would spend his act tripping over his feet and having all sorts of accidents.

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The iconic American character Uncle Sam was based on a famous circus clown. Dan Rice was a philanthropist and close friend of President Lincoln who made his fortune working as a clown during the Civil War period by using humour and songs to make political observations. Sporting a goatee beard, he wore a red nose and his suit and top hat were decorated with the American flag. When political cartoonist Thomas Nast first drew Uncle Sam, he allegedly based it on Rice.

The Fratellini brothers were famous circus clowns in the early 1900s and although they weren’t the first to invent the white-faced, red-nosed performer, it was the brothers who ensured the clown make-up, costumes (including the oversized shoes of the Auguste clown) and the red nose - still used as a symbol of comedy - became a tradition.

The coupling of skill (such as juggling or riding a unicycle) with slapstick has evolved as hallmarks of the clown. The 20th century may have associated them with hamburgers and horror, but throughout history there have been bad clowns too - sinister masked characters who can feature in our worst nightmares. In fact, fear of clowns is a recognized psychological condition known as ‘coulrophobia’.

But however you view them, no one can deny that clowns have long had the power to entertain.

By Catherine Rose

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Time of Year

Let it Snow!

By Monica Cox

A white Christmas is something many of us dream of, but how much do we know about snow?

Snow is made of a bizarre and complex substance which we take completely for granted – water!

Water is a liquid at room temperature, unlike other substances with similar-sized molecules, such as ammonia or methane – these are gases. Water requires more energy to boil it than other liquids and unlike most substances which shrink as they freeze, water expands as it turns to ice. As it turns out this is rather important. Ice is less dense than water so it floats. If it became more dense like most substances lakes would freeze from the bottom up and aquatic life would die. But because water freezes from the top down, the floating ice forms a layer on the surface which insulates the water beneath allowing it to stay liquid and all the swimming creatures to survive.

Few people know that for snow to fall at temperatures higher than -40C a special particle called an ice nucleus is required. Snow seeds as they are known include fine particles of soil, dust, and volcanic ash. These ‘seeds’ pass through the clouds of water vapour in the upper atmospheres and it is on their surface that ice crystals form which become snow. Snowflakes are all different because of the way they attract new water to their ‘corners’. As the crystals fall through the atmosphere they pass through different layers of temperature and humidity, and get tossed around by the wind. The interplay between the

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snow seeds, random water droplets and their need to grow in a hexagonal fashion means that each snowflake grows rapidly in a unique way until they are large enough to fall as snowflakes.

The perfect snowflakes that we see on Christmas cards are actually quite idealised. Most snowflakes are imperfect, but they do have an underlying symmetry which has been noticed by humans for thousands of years. Most flakes are 1cm or less across but occasionally atmospheric conditions conspire to form giant snowflakes. In 1915 snowflakes 10cm across fell in Berlin, and in Montana in 1887 flakes 38cm (15 inches) across were recorded.

But if snow is made of ice (which is clear or possibly slightly blue), why is snow dazzling white? Well the reason is because of the complex structure of snowflake crystals. Light rays bounce around from one crystal of ice to another, randomly until they find their way out. Because of the very short distances between the reflective surfaces the light rays are efficiently scattered and none are absorbed, and if no light is absorbed then a substance appears white.

If we do have a few flakes this Christmas then you can amaze your friends with how much you now know about snow!

All together now…’I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…’

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Food and Drink

Choice Wines: France Château la Tulipe de la Garde is a much-respected winery that continues to receive prestigious awards for their wine productions and is situated between Saint-Émilion and the Dordogne River, in the Bordeaux region of France. Dating from the middle of the 14th century, the estate was purchased by Dutch rock star, writer-composer, Ilja Gort, during 1994. Having only a small amount of knowledge about winemaking, but wanting to live in a peaceful environment, Ilja developed the family business and can be justifiably proud of all achievements. Located north-east of Bordeaux, the climate of this area enjoys a good amount of sunshine and grows numerous grape varietals, with high-quality grapes, for producing exceptional wines.

Château la Tulipe Bordeaux Supérieur is an excellent blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. Aged in French oak barrels, this production has an intense red colour. Ripe, dark fruits, are in abundance for the bouquet. The smooth, dry palate sensations follow through, with a most impressive finish, to complete. A very pleasant and popular wine, having a richness to savour.

The Company also produces wines under the ‘Slurp’ label. Slurp Cabernet Syrah Red has Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes utilised to great advantage. Ripe and juicy, this wine has many ‘followers’, being easy-drinking and with positive flavours. Smooth and popular, this production has a good body and is well-balanced. Slurp Chardonnay also has a good number of ‘devotees’.

Again, excellent value and enjoyed both on its own and at many dining occasions, this wine will not disappoint, either. A medium-intense, dry, white production, which has a modest floral bouquet, leading to the mouth’s pleasures and the palate’s appreciated enjoyment. Easy-drinking and pleasing to many wine lovers.

For all details, plus availability and very interesting information about this winery and the impressive productions, which accompany a lot of cuisine, wonderfully, please visit: www.tulipe.co.uk www.tulipe.nl www.slurp.nu

As always, Enjoy!

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COMPETITION

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Sweeney Entertainments Presents

The Best of Wham Bedford Corn Exchange

Saturday 13th January 2018, 8pm Tickets £19.50 in advance

We are giving away 2 x tickets to the show!

Simply send your entry by 16th December 2017 to: Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random.

BEST OF WHAM COMPETITION ENTRY To win 2 free tickets to see The Best of Wham on Saturday 13th January complete your details below:

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A ‘Fantastic’ new show featuring the best of George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie with sensational vocals, choreography, costumes and an awesome live band.

Can it really be 37 years since George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley formed one of the most enduring pop groups of the 80s? In four short years WHAM! sold more than 28 million records, topping the charts with three albums, four number one singles and eleven top ten hits. They featured in the Live Aid concert of 1985 and were the first western pop group to ever tour in China. Their impact and influence on the 80s era and music today really cannot be over emphasised. The Best of WHAM! Show includes all those hits, a few B side favourites and a couple of early George Michael bonus songs.

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The team at The Villager would like to wish all readers and advertisers a very

Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year

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Hobbies

Quirky Britain THE HIGH STREET SHOPS WHERE IT’S CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR ROUND Are you one of those people who starts looking forward to next Christmas as soon as the decorations are packed away? Thanks to a growing British shopping trend, you can now enjoy Christmas all year round.

A growing number of retailers are trying out all-year Christmas shopping, with many of the more successful stores located in areas known for attracting tourists. In Stratford-Upon-Avon, The Nutcracker Christmas shop - with its range of festive ornaments - makes a lively contrast to the staid Shakespeare souvenirs on sale elsewhere.

The shop is part of a small family business founded

by Robert Newman in 2001. Robert had intended to open a small gift shop, but a visit to a trade gift show in Birmingham opened his eyes to the huge potential for selling festive goods. He now owns a chain of Christmas stores in England and Scotland.

Lisa Hill-Whyte, owner of the Isle of Wight’s Jingle Bells Christmas shop, was inspired to open her business in 2009 after visiting Christmas stores in Austria and America. She began by filling an adjoining tea room with Christmas merchandise during the winter months, but her idea proved so popular that she was able to realise her dream of selling festive goods for most of the year.

Her Shanklin store now stays open seven days a week, from March to Christmas Eve. Lisa says: “We do as much business in April as we do in December and our busiest months are July, August and September.”

Lisa’s policy is to stock items that are “a little bit special”, so customers can personalise their Christmas tree decorations. As a result she has had some unusual requests: “Some customers ask

for a certain animal that you wouldn’t necessarily expect at Christmas – such as a fish, raccoon, tiger, elephant, sheep, cow or fox. The list is long, but I have found all these and others. I haven’t been caught out yet!”

So what attracts shoppers to buy Christmas items at a time of the year when the festive season should be furthest from our thoughts? Hayley Corden from Bromsgrove sees it as part of the tourist experience. She says: “Whenever we go away we always try to buy a Christmas tree decoration. It’s lovely to look at your Christmas tree and remember all the places you’ve been.”

James Tunstall from Newquay, Cornwall, enjoys the “magical feeling” he gets in a Christmas shop.

He says: “I love to browse out of season. It’s about recalling the Christmasses you had as a child, and these shops bring it all back.”

However, some shoppers are very far from experiencing nostalgia when they see festive goods on sale out of season. Whilst enjoying a summer holiday in Dorset, Tracy Whelbourne from Chesterfield was shocked to find Christmas decorations on sale: “So there we were, enjoying the sunny weather, and what do I see? A Christmas shop, open, with customers inside! Christmas seems to start earlier and earlier these days, and seeing it made me really cross.”

Whether the sight of a high street Christmas shop thrills you with memories of childhood Christmasses past or makes you boil with rage, it seems that from now on - should they so choose - fans of the festive season will be able to shop for Santa stockings, advent calendars and shiny baubles whenever they want.

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Local News

Arthur Rank Hospice’s Christmas tree returns bigger than ever! Could you help?

The Hospice fundraising team are looking for volunteers to help with their annual Christmas tree recycling scheme! It’s a fantastically simple idea….

Anyone who lives in postcode areas CB1, CB2, CB22, CB3, CB4, CB5 - and now also CB24 - and doesn’t want the hassle of getting rid of their tree, can register online at arhc.org.uk/treerecycling to have it collected by the Hospice’s Christmas-Treeclearance-team! For a small donation, as little as £5, they will collect your tree to be composted.

Last New Year £7,000 was raised in this way for the Hospice and this year they are hoping to raise even more!

Can you help? Support is needed in a number of ways: 1. Could you help with promoting the collection by leafleting in the postcode areas listed above between 27 December and 4 January?

2. Would you like to join the Christmas-Treeclearance-team? It’s like a treasure hunt for trees, so lots of fun (and for a really good cause!) on 5 and 6 January (either day, or both). If you additionally have access to a van, that would be fantastic, but co-pilots are also needed for the day.

3. f you live in of the postcodes above and would like your tree collected for a small donation on 5 or 6 January, please register your tree by visiting arhc.org.uk/treerecycling To help as a volunteer please contact bec.beattie@arhc.org.uk / 01223 675888. You can also contact her to find out more about what is involved at any stage of the scheme and/or if you’re interested in offering sponsorship in some way.

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17

Finance

How to Plan for the Boxing Day Sales Boxing Day is generally regarded as the biggest sales day of the year in the retail industry, so if you’re heading to the shops it’s worthwhile taking time to plan well in advance. A practical approach will help you focus on the best deals and take advantage of the fact that goods will be at a fraction of their normal price.

One of the major problems of sales shopping is the sheer number of offers available, and it’s very easy to be distracted once you start. So what steps can you take in advance to help you get the most out of your day, and also protect your finances for the year ahead?

Before you start high street or online shopping • Find out the store opening times before you go - they vary on Boxing Day, with some shops remaining closed. You can find this information from a store’s website and social media pages, along with details of the items that might be included in the sale.

• If you’re shopping online, save the home page of each store into your computer, along with the product codes of any items you’re interested in. This enables you buy quickly, as soon as the goods are available.

• Check out the returns policy for each store as you may have to pay for the returns postage and packing yourself. If you’re shopping on the high street you need to keep all your receipts, and the store’s returns policy should be printed on the back.

Planning your spending According to the Centre for Retail Research¹, the total Christmas spend per household in 2016 was £809.97.

Even if you don’t spend this much on Christmas, it’s an expensive time of year when you also factor in credit card bills for the sales.

If you’re not able to repay the balance at the end of the month, you may find the savings you’ve made are suddenly reduced. So what can you do to alleviate the strain on your finances and make sure you don’t find yourself in unmanageable debt in the New Year?

• Stay within your budget Calculate how much you can afford to spend on Boxing Day, and stick to it. By focusing only on the items you want, you won’t overstretch yourself financially.

• Use comparison websites to find the best price Compare prices online before you head out to the shops if there’s something in particular you’re looking for – this can save a lot of time and money.

• Be wary of signing up for store cards Signing up for a store card at the till can seem like a good idea. You access further reductions on the cost but interest rates on these cards can be extremely

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high, so it may not be worthwhile doing so in the long-run.

Pay off more than just the minimum amount Paying off only the minimum amount from your credit card each month means your sales purchases will cost significantly more than anticipated. Banks and credit card providers set the minimum amount as a percentage of the balance, so as you repay, this minimum required payment drops.

This not only increases profits for the banks but adds considerably to your debt in the long-term, and can be the start of serious financial problems – not an ideal situation when you consider the items were purchased with a view to saving money.

Are 0% interest credit cards a good idea?

Balance transfer cards offering 0% interest for a fixed period of time are a good way to deal with large purchases. If you buy the goods on your ‘standard’ credit card and then transfer the balance over you can save a significant amount in interest, but there are also potential drawbacks: • If you miss a single payment on a 0% credit card, the provider will withdraw their offer and you’re likely to be charged an extremely high rate of interest in its place.

• Fees are charged when you originally transfer a balance – usually a percentage of the amount transferred.

• Credit card providers are often owned by larger banking institutions, and it’s unlikely you’ll be accepted for a balance transfer offer if you already hold a card connected to the group.

At the time of writing, the best 0% balance transfer deals include: • Barclaycard: up to 40 months, with a fee of 1.68% (you’re not guaranteed 40 months at 0%, however).

• MBNA: up to 39 months with a 1.48% fee (as with the Barclaycard example above, there is no guarantee that you’ll be offered the full 39-month term).

• Sainsbury’s: 33 months, guaranteed if accepted, 0.59% fee plus £20 cash back.

• Virgin Money: 30 months guaranteed on acceptance, with a fee of 0.55%.

Whether you’re purchasing a specific item or buying birthday presents for the year ahead, the Boxing Day sales represent a great way to save money. Planning ahead helps you stay in control of your spending in the face of temptation, and manage your finances without entering serious debt.

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EBAY COLLECTIONS

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Local & Reliable

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Time of Year

Make sure your Christmas stays Merry – not Miserable! Consumer advice - Safe Local Trades ‘Tis the season to be jolly – presents to buy and proudly displaying them under a beautifully decorated tree.

However, it may not just be the intended receiver of the gift who takes a shine to the pile of expensive goodies.

Christmas is a time when many of us let our guard down, with excitement leading up to the big day.

For opportunist thieves, visible presents under the tree, open car boots full of shopping while loads are being taken into the house and even the possibility of an unlocked garage are rich pickings which can turn your Christmas from being Merry into Miserable!

Equally, flaws in home security while out and about visiting friends and family are a beacon to thieves – so always remember to check your alarm and never leave doors, windows or garages unlocked.

Some tips for a safe and happy festive season: - Don’t leave presents in full view – either in the home or in the back seat of the car.

- Shorter days mean longer time for thieves to be in operation – always lock your car and front door.

- Keep a light on indoors and outdoors if you are out.

- It may be an idea to fit motion detector security lighting – it won’t just be carol singers who come calling.

- Keep your personal data safe – and securely dispose of receipts.

- If buying bikes and / or electronic equipment for Christmas – mark them with your postcode - If you’re going away at Christmas be sure to cancel any newspaper or milk subscriptions. Arrange for a neighbour to park on the driveway to help create the impression someone is home. Do not to leave descriptive telephone answering machine messages like “we’re away skiing for the Christmas holidays” or post your plans on social media.

- If using outdoor festive lighting, ensure cables aren’t passed through windows, leaving enough gap for burglars to make use of.

For any home security improvements we have locksmiths, alarm and CCTV installers, electricians and many other traders who can help.

Wishing you all a very Happy and safe Christmas from www.safelocaltrades.com and www.safelocalservices.com

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Employment

Good relationships between employees and their managers are a positive factor in employees’ ability to balance work and family.

Employment Matters Employees who rate their organisation’s company’s overall commitment to wellbeing as good to high say this has a positive effect on the work life balance.

Employees who experience negative attitudes from their managers, peers and colleagues at work find it hinders their ability to balance work and family.

Organisations who consider their employees’ happiness and workplace wellbeing can gain the benefit of reduced absence and increased productivity. This is done not by following fad or fashion, but by understanding the real issues impacting all the workforce, and wherever possible, actually doing something about them.

Being a good listener is a positive step to promoting wellbeing at work and active listening involves paying close attention to what the other person is saying, asking clarifying questions, and rephrasing what the person says to ensure understanding.

A good communicator should enter any conversation with a flexible, open mind and committed to listening to and understanding the other person’s point of view, rather than simply getting their own message across. Being willing to enter into a dialogue, even with those who may disagree and have ideas of their own, produces more honest, productive conversations and potential improvements to the ‘way we do things around here’.

All those working in a business will find it easier to be more open to communicating if they are approached with respect for themselves, their skills,

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knowledge and experience and their ideas. Actions like using a person’s name, making eye contact, and actively listening when a person speaks will make the person feel appreciated. If you are talking on the phone, avoid distractions like reading your emails or playing computer games, and stay focussed on the conversation.

Convey respect in every email by planning the content as if it was a business letter. Always use an opening salutation, don’t send a sloppily written, confusing email, or use it as a way of avoiding a face to face discussion on underperformance.

Being able to appropriately give and receive feedback is an important part of wellbeing at work in every role. Anyone with workers who report directly, or even indirectly, to them should continuously look for ways to provide those employees with constructive feedback, be it through face to face meetings, email, phone calls, or weekly status updates.

Giving feedback involves giving praise as well something as simple as saying “ that was a great job” or “thank you for taking care of that so well” to an employee can greatly increase the feeling of wellbeing and motivation.

We all spend a lot of time at work and by everyone committing to building and maintaining harmonious working relationships everyone’s level of wellbeing will increase.

Carol H Scott HR and Business Consulting Ltd

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Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

The

Christmas Wreath Until fairly recently in history, certainly up to Victorian times, people could never be certain they would safely survive the harsh winter. So they developed rituals and displays to help them get through the darker days. One such symbolic display of hope was the Christmas wreath. The circular shape is symbolic of eternity or everlasting life because it has no beginning or end. From a Christian perspective it represents the unending circle of life, with the traditional Holly as the thorns on Jesus’ crown and the red berries as his blood.

Now we hang them on our doors and use them as table centrepieces because they look wonderfully opulent and festive.

The word ‘wreath’ is linked to the word ‘wrist’, both words describing the form of a continuous circular shape. This became fused with ‘wrethe’ from middle English which means a twisted band or ring of leaves.

At this bleak time of year, it’s traditional to use evergreens and other brightly coloured flowers, foliage, or fruits to adorn a wreath. In past times the addition of expensive and rare fruits such as pomegranates, indicated wealth, but wreaths also included the display of pinecones, seashells and even imported products. Once the decorations

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were taken down, the edible parts would be eaten and the bounty of summer could be enjoyed in the depth of winter.

Making a wreath is fun and relatively easy. You can make a simple and cheap evergreen circle or push the boat out and create an elaborate bauble ring. You can buy a ring of flower-arrangers’ foam. Soak it in tepid water, and then stick sprigs of evergreen foliage from the garden, flowers, berries, dried fruits, nuts, and bows into it using wire if necessary.

Or you can make your own base by taking a ring of string wire and covering it in moss or hay. This will need to be held in place using thinner gauge wire.

You can then wire in foliage and decorations. I will just warn you about holly though; working with it can be a painful experience so wear gloves and maybe have a box of plasters handy!

If you want to try something different you can use a circle of pine cones, dried leaves, threaded popcorn and cranberries or woven red and yellow dogwood cut from your garden and interweaved with battery-operated lights. Use your gardener’s imagination.

Happy Gardening

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III SHIRES PEST CONTROL Call Matthew 07836 754014 / 01480 811330 Control of Wasps, Ants, Bees, Fleas, Bedbugs, Moths, Carpet Beetles, Cockroaches, Rats, Mice, Squirrels and Birds Suppliers of UV Fly Killers CRB Checked and Fully Insured Prompt and Discreet Professional Service Residential - Commercial - Industrial - Agricultural

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Animal Stories

Pets

Happy re-homing...

Now that the darker nights are closing in and the cold is making us all a little grumpy – we thought that we’d cheer you up with some recent stories of successful re-homing. Hopefully these beautiful cats will warm the cockles of your heart and help you consider if you could open your home to an animal in need.

Ronald was only a scrawny kitten when he was found abandoned and full of fleas. Despite his tough start, he was cheeky and friendly – and lucky enough to find his forever home. We received this lovely message from his new family: “We just wanted to let you know how well Norman (previously known as Ronald) is getting along. He’s settled in so well with lots of cuddles, gobbling down lots of food and he is also getting along well with our other cat, Gertrude!

They play together, eat together and she’s even recently started grooming her new little brother!”

Another stunninglooking kitten was found trying to get a spray tan from a local salon! Sadly, she wasn’t claimed and so was put up for adoption.

Now called Misty, we were sent this lovely photograph from her new owners. It definitely looks like she’s made herself at home!

Surprisingly, black cats are always difficult to re-home and often find themselves overlooked. Luckily for handsome, fluffball Bruno – his new owners quickly fell under his spell. They sent us this message: “…Bruno has settled in extremely well since bringing him home on Saturday. He is such a sweet natured ella and he very much enjoys fuss and attention!” )

Some of our animals come to us in inseparable pairs and it is too traumatic for them to be split up.

This can mean finding a new forever home is a bit more difficult – but Twyler and Sirrius hit the jackpot. Their new owners write: “Twyler and Sirrius are making good use of our king-sized bed and now prefer this to their basket. We just sleep around them! We have bought them a cat tree which is beside our patio windows so they can get a good view of the garden and birds. We also bought some cat toys. Thank you so much for allowing us to adopt these two lovely cats. They are already very much part of the family.”

It’s wonderful that these are such happy endings, but unfortunately, we always have a constant stream of unwanted animals coming into our care.

Daisy, Maisy and Lacey are around 6 months old. They’ve come from a chaotic house with too many animals and are now looking for a loving forever home. If you think you can offer one of these kittens – or any unwanted animal in our care – a loving home, please contact us.

Supporting the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch ensures that we will always be here for animals such as Norman, Misty and Daisy – protecting them and giving them new beginnings.

Can you help us spread a little more happiness?

ANIMAL STORIES is one of a series of articles brought to you by the RSPCA Bedfordshire North branch www.rspca-bedfordshirenorth.org.uk

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Food and Drink

Seasonal Delights Salmon and Monkfish Filo Wreath

Serves 6 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus chilling time This festive wreath makes a great alternative to traditional roast turkey and can be prepared in advance the night before.

INGREDIENTS

Sunflower oil, for greasing 100g butter, melted 270g pack filo pastry, thawed if frozen 450g salmon fillet, skinned and diced 450g monkfish fillet, skinned and diced 225g cooked peeled tiger prawns 2 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp chopped fresh dill Salt and freshly ground black pepper Lemon wedges and dill sprigs, to garnish 1 Use the sunflower oil to grease a 1.2 litre capacity ring mould, then line the mould with cling film.

2 Brush the sheets of pastry one by one with melted butter and use nearly all of them to line the ring mould. Overlap the pastry sheets slightly as you go and repeat the layers 3-4 times. Leave the excess pastry to drape over the side of the mould.

3 Mix the salmon, monkfish and prawns in a large bowl and stir in the lemon juice and chopped dill. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

4 Spoon the fish mixture into the pastry-lined mould, pressing down gently. Fold the excess

pastry in over the filling and top with more buttered sheets of pastry, cutting them to fit and completely cover the filling. Stamp small star shapes out of any remaining sheets of buttered pastry and place on a plate.

5 Cover the ring mould and the plate with cling film and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or overnight). Carefully invert the ring mould onto a large baking sheet and then remove the mould and the cling film. Re-melt any remaining butter and brush all over the pastry.

6 Bake in a preheated oven at 190C/fan 170C/Gas Mark 5 for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden. Bake the pastry stars on a separate baking sheet for 5 minutes until golden.

7 Allow the wreath to stand for 5 minutes then transfer to a serving platter and decorate with the pastry stars.

Garnish with lemon wedges and dill sprigs.

Tip

Filo pastry sheets can vary in size so simply cut to fit. Don’t worry if they tear, just place another piece of buttered pastry on top to cover the tear.

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33

Time of Year

A History of

Christmas Decorations Every year we go with the children to choose a new Christmas tree decoration. We don’t do themed trees in our house so our annual tree is a history of the kids’ eclectic and often eccentric tastes down the years. Traditional inherited hand blown glass ornaments nestle alongside a plastic gingerbread man, a gaudy fairy in striped tights, a robot, a festive dachshund, and a host of other unlikely characters.

Every year is a delight of discovery as my teens and preteens unpack, reminisce and tease each other over their past choices.

But where did the idea of decorations originate and how did they evolve into what they’ve now become?

Tinsel originated in Germany in the early 1600s.

Back then it was made from real shredded silver.

Tinsel makers hammered the silver until it was thin, then cut it into strips. It was so popular that tinsel machines were invented to keep up with demand.

Clearly silver was a little expensive and eventually the plastic variety took over.

We have the Germans to thank for baubles. They were invented in the 1840s by Hans Greiner.

His original glass fruit and nuts developed into beautiful ornate ornaments which so charmed Queen Victoria that she brought them back to Britain.

As they were all hand-crafted the first, baubles were very expensive. Improvements in plastic manufacturing meant that cheaper versions became available, and baubles became available to the masses.

The green fir tree was originally used by Pagans and Christians to celebrate winter. Pagans used branches of the fir tree to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as a reminder that spring would come again. The Christians adopted them later.

The tradition of Christmas trees seems to have originated about 1000 years ago in Northern Europe. They were

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often hung upside down from the rafters. In modern times improved manufacturing techniques have allowed for the production of artificial trees which can be very difficult to tell from the real thing!

In Victorian times, Christmas trees were been decorated with candles. In 1895, an American man, Ralph Morris, was so concerned about the fire hazard of candles and Christmas trees that he invented the first electric Christmas lights, which are similar to those still in use today.

Over the years there have been glass and plastic variations of reindeers, stars, fruit, butterflies, birds and even festive dachshunds (see above!) but the debate still rages about whether there should be an angel or a star on top of the tree.

Merry Christmas

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Codeword 1

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Suduko

Hard Suduko

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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Deadline for What’s On entries is the 12th of the previous month.

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

n O s ’ t Wha In December 1 December St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School Katy Salmon will talk about ‘A Tudor Christmas, in Costume and Character’.

2 December Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Quality handmade art and craft stalls and tombola.

2 December Children’s Messy Advent Workshop 10.30am-12 noon St James Church, Little Paxton Christmas stories, songs and crafts. All pre-school children to be accompanied by an adult. Please contact Annette to register a place Tel: Canon Rev Annette Reed - 01480 211048 Email: canonannettereed@gmail.com 2 December Taste of Christmas Fayre 11am-1pm Tempsford Methodist Chapel Raffle, books, toys, jigsaws, Christmas tombola, Santa sack, Money tree, Reindeer food, cake stall, Take me home for Christmas and lots more.

Refreshments available.

2 December Cambs and Beds Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Jill and Alun Whitehead, owners of Aulden Farm Nursery, will talk about ‘Aulden Farm - From Conception to Chaos’. www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 2 December Concert by the Aragon Singers 7.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Tickets £8 (inc. a glass of wine) Tickets available from Kimbolton Flower Shop or on Sundays after service.

2 December St Neots Choral Society Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Tickets £12, Concessions £10 A performance of Handel: Chandos Anthem No 9; Handel: Zadok the Priest, Bach: Lutheran Mass - in G major, BWV 236 and Purcell: Come ye Sons of Art. Tel: 01480 392322 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk

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2 & 3 December Christmas Tree Festival Sat 10.30am-4.30pm, Sun 12 noon-4.30pm St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Admission £2.50, Children under 12 free 30 beautifully decorated trees. Refreshments, Tombola and various stalls. Everyone welcome.

3 December Craft & Gift Fair Comrades Club, Godmanchester Browse a wide selection of unique handmade crafts and gifts not found in the High Street.

Tel: 01536 675000 for stallholder enquiries Email: coulterlyons@yahoo.co.uk 3 December Moments with Trees – Tree Dressing Day 11.30am-2.30pm Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough Come along to the Visitor Centre and create an item to hang on one of our special trees.

Web: www.neneparktrust.org.uk Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com 6 December St. Mary’s Christmas Coffee Morning 10-11.30am Buckden Village Hall Entry £3 inc. coffee & mince pies Seasonal stalls. Raffle. Everyone welcome.

6 December Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209 6 & 13 December Little Fishes 10am-11.20am Grafham Village Hall Stay and Play Tots Session during term-time. Babies welcome too. Tel: Jean Clark 01480 890033 Email: robnjeanclark@tiscali.co.uk 8 December Coffee Morning 10.30am-12 noon Methodist Hall, Church Street, Buckden Buckden & Little Paxton Surgeries Patients Association.

8 December Wildlife Trust Christmas at Manor House 3pm-7pm Free entry Manor House, Broad Street, Cambourne This fun event is a great way to stock up on wildlife goodies galore, including wildlife art and photographs, decorations, hand crafted jewellery, bird boxes and insect houses, handmade soy candles, a Christmas raffle plus children’s activities.

The perfect chance to step into the festive spirit with mulled wine and mince pies.

8 December Beauty & The Beast (PG) Food 6.15 for 6.30pm, Film only 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Food & Film £12, Film only £4, Over 60s £3, Children £2 Kimbolton Community Cinema. Walt Disney’s musical, romantic fantasy adaptation of the fairy tale. Free popcorn. Tickets available from Oliver’s, The Swan Pharmacy, Kimbolton Courtyard Kitchen, Bytes Café, and on the door if available.

Tel: 01480 860297 Email: kimbolton.cinema@gmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema 9 December Christmas Bazaar 12 noon-4pm Little Paxton Village Hall Admission 30p, Children free Lots of Christmas stalls including crafts, gifts, tombolas, games, face painting, refreshments and not forgetting Santa’s Grotto. Organised by St. James Church, Little Paxton.

9 December Christmas Fair 3-5pm Brampton Village Primary School Santa’s Grotto, stalls, games, shopping, School choir, tombola, face painting, refreshments and luxury hamper raffle.

9 December The Aragon Singers of Buckden 7.30pm The Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene Brampton Tickets £8 inc. mulled wine & mince pies An evening of well-known Christmas music with plenty of opportunity for audience participation.

Tickets available on the door.

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This is a small selection of the What’s On for the full listing please go to our website www.villagermag.com

n O s ’ t Wha In December 9 December Songs From Home 7.30pm Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle Tickets £12/10 Ruff ‘n’ Ready and Grantham School of Dancing present ‘Songs From Home’, inspired by the music of the Irish Diaspora. Tickets from Oundle in Stitches, Market Place, Oundle or by telephone.

Tel: Tickets 01832 273830

15 December La La Land Doors open 7.30pm, film starts 8pm Corn Exchange, St Ives Tickets £5 + booking fee Screen St Ives. 12A. Celebrate the Christmas season with this bittersweet almost-Oscar-winning romance - a wonderful feast for the eyes and ear.

Web: www.screenstives.org.uk

10 December A Children’s Christmas Concert with St Neots Concert Band 3pm Great Paxton Church of England Primary School, 19 Mount Pleasant, Great Paxton Music for the whole family to enjoy, with opportunities for children to join in.

16 December Huntingdonshire Philharmonic: A Christmas Feast 4pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets: £14/£12, Student concession £7/£6 Hunts Phil’s well-loved Family Christmas Concert with a mix of old and new carols.

Tel: Box Office: 01480 375678 Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk

12 December St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30-9pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Visitors £6 Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands-on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugarcraft. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 13 December Cambridgeshire Rural M.E. Tea & Chat Second Wednesday of every month. Monthly meetup for adults with M.E. and partners/friends.

Web: www.crmetea.org 13 December Wildlife Trust Christmas Miscellany 7.30-9pm Brampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, Accompanied children free Oliver Burke, Wildlife Trust Director of Living Landscapes, will talk about conservation news and recent local wildlife highlights.

Tel: Tim Fryer 07941 261346 15 December St Neots Timebank New Friends Group 2-3.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots For members and non-members. If you like to chat about everyday things and enjoy friendly company come along and meet members of the TimeBank community. We’re a friendly team of people - learn how the TimeBank can benefit so many in a multitude of ways, the list is never ending.

16 December Huntingdon Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert 7.30pm St Mary’s Church, Huntingdon Tickets £10, Concessions £8 Joint Christmas Concert with Sing2Help. Tickets available by telephone or online.

Tel: Tickets Richard 01480 383525 Web: www.hmvc.org.uk 17 December Children’s Christmas Crafts 11am-4pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge £10 per family, Members £8 CambridgePPF event. Help your children make attractive rustic Christmas decorations using natural materials from the park. Expert guidance is on hand.

Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Email: email bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on 17 December Christmas Carols at the Leper Chapel 6.30-8pm Leper Chapel, Cambridge CambridgePPF event. The Reverend Dr Roger Williams will be leading the Cottenham Brass Band for Carols by Candlelight. Donations towards the upkeep of the chapel are always appreciated.

Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Email: email bookings@cambridgeppf.org Web: www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

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21 December Christmas Tree Decoration Making 10am-12 Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough Join Rangers to make a Christmas Tree decoration from clay which can be taken home to hang on your tree. Meet at Discovery Den. Web: www.neneparktrust.org.uk 21 December Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 8-10pm St Neots Football Club The Love’s Farm Ladies is Love’s Farm’s new WI group, meeting on the third Thursday of the month.

Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043 Email: lovesfarmladieswi@gmail.com 23 December Carol Concert 6pm St Mary’s Church, Eaton Socon Joint concert with St Neots Choral Society and St Neots Sinfonia. Seasonal music and readings with an orchestral piece that gives children the opportunity to ‘join the band’. Tickets available from choir members or by telephone. Tel: Tickets 01480 392322 29 December Wildlife Trust Midwinter Walk 10am-1pm Roswell Pits Walk off the Christmas pudding with the Ely local group at Roswell Pits and along the river Great Ouse - bittern, goosander and kingfisher are resident in the area. Meet at Ely cathedral carpark.

30 & 31 December St Ives Antiques Fair 10am-4pm daily Burgess Hall (One Leisure Centre), Westwood Road, St Ives This is a fun and friendly Antiques Fair with around 50 dealers offering affordable quality antiques and vintage pieces including ceramics, glass, maps, small items of furniture, silver, china, jewellery, paperweights, postcards and other interesting treasures of yesteryear at prices to suit all pockets.

All shown in the air-conditioned and comfortable surroundings of Burgess Hall, with ample free parking, wheelchair access from street level and great on-site catering. It makes a great day out for everyone. Dealers welcome from 9am upon production of business card.

Tel: 01480 896866 Email: parkhousepr@aol.com Web: www.stivesantiquesfair.co.uk

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www.cromwellstoves.co.uk 40

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November’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mrs White of St Neots Easy

Hard

Fun Quiz - Christmas Food & Drink 1. What name is given to the part of a traditional Christmas dinner that consists of small sausages wrapped in bacon?

2. With the first part of its name meaning “star” in Latin, which lager was originally launched as a festive beer in 1926?

3. Not wanting to offend any of those who invited her, Geraldine Granger eats four Christmas lunches in a 1996 Christmas special of which TV show?

4. According to tradition, eating at least one what on each of the 12 days of Christmas is thought to bring good luck for the coming year?

5. Which liqueur is mixed with lemonade to make a cocktail called the Snowball?

6. Commonly eaten at Christmas in the USA and Canada, which dessert is mentioned in the lyrics of the songs Sleigh Ride and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree?

7. Consumed by many people around Christmas time, what is known as Glogg in some parts of Europe?

8. In a famous nursery rhyme, who was “eating a Christmas pie”?

9. Which alcoholic spirit is traditionally added to butter and served with Christmas Pudding?

10. In 2008, three episodes of Deal Or No Deal that were aired shortly after Christmas featured what food item in place of the 1p booby prize?

1. Pigs in blankets 2. Stella Artois 3. The Vicar Of Dibley 4. Mince pie 5. Advocaat 6. Pumpkin Pie 7. Mulled wine 8. Little Jack Horner 9. Brandy 10. A turkey sandwich

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

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21 Assists (4)

2 Refute (4) 3 Childhood illness (7) 4 Investigate (5)

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

16th December 2017 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

5 Barely (8) 6 Coerced (6) 12 Engaged (8) 14 Stopping place (7) 16 Gun or knife (6) 18 Bowed (6) 19 Nearby (5) 21 Pinnacle (4)

Name: Tel: Address:

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FASCIAS, SOFFITS AND GUTTERING PROFESSIONAL, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE FROM AS LITTLE AS £25 PER METRE FITTED

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For more information ring Tim on 01480 218998 info@eliteroofline.com www.elitefasciasoffitandguttering.com

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Food and Drink

Beer and festive food Christmas is essentially about four things: presents, family, food and drink. Alas there’s not much advice we can offer on family (try and be nice) or the presents but we’ve got you covered for food and drink, with beer claiming a place at the Christmas dinner table.

Aperitif - Before we start gobbling turkey, how about an aperitif? The beer needs to be dry, bubbly and blonde. Lagers, blonde and golden ales offer a range of flavours from herbal, pine and bready to spicy, citrus and tropical fruit. Serve in a champagne flute to match the occasion.

Starters - For festive fish and seafood, you’re spoilt for choice. Wheat beers, particularly Belgian witbiers, are adept at bringing out the best in fish.

Often brewed with coriander and orange peel they’re spritzy, citrusy and perfectly complement any fish that’s enhanced with a squeeze of lemon, such as salmon. Lagers, like wheat beers, do a fine job of complementing delicate flavours and their effervescence cuts through any oily fish and cleanse the palate, leaving you ready for the next bite.

Main - So which beer with turkey? Its soft, easy flavours make great partners for sweet milds, gentle bitters and lagers. Keep it mellow and go for something with bittersweet balance. Saisons are also a very good option. Their herbal, spicy and tart notes complementing, but not overwhelming, the meat. The spiciness scores a direct hit with the stuffing while their sweetness contrasts the bitterness of Brussels sprouts. Finally, along comes sparkly carbonation and a subtle peppery bitterness,

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which will cut through the fatty textures and sweep the palate clean. Well done saisons.

If goose is the family festive favourite a full-flavoured Trappist or Abbey beer has the necessary oomph to complement this more gamey bird especially with its bigger flavoured accompaniments such as chestnuts or red cabbage.

If duck is your bird of choice it just has to be a glass of Kwak, a Belgian strong ale. View that one as your very own Christmas cracker joke pairing.

Dessert and cheese - Christmas day desserts vary from house-to-house, but the overwhelming favourite is Christmas pudding. This is heaven sent with stouts and porters, the same creamy dry flavours being present in both. Barley wines are also worth an outing. Not forgetting mince pies, where the warm, complex, sweet and spicy qualities of strong ales will complement these crumbly Christmas classics.

Then there’s the array of cheeses and the beers to match. Not to mention all manner of chocolate delights, where you can complement with the harmonising chocolate notes of stouts and porters, or wonderfully contrast the sweetness with the sour smack of a lambic kriek – which is akin to creating a Black Forest gateau one mouthful at a time.

Find the perfect festive beers with Beer Match, our online tool that matches brilliant beers to your favourite dishes. Having the right beer for your top food has never been so easy.

Discover more at www.beerforthat.com

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Books

Book Review

By Kate Duggan

Firewood

Indulgent Escapes Looking to escape the in-laws for a couple of hours? We may have found you the perfect book to indulge in.

All the Little Children

Removals, Delivery & Storage

by Jo Furniss

A family wild-camping trip turns into a fight to survive in this gripping debut novel.

Marlene and her sister-in-law have taken their children to a forest for a short holiday before the start of term.

When they spot columns of smoke in the distance, and not an electric light in sight, they start to suspect something has gone badly wrong. As the enormity of the situation unfolds, and Marlene finds more children in need of protection, she needs to decide how far she’ll go to protect her family. Gripping.

For All Your Storage, Delivery and Removal Requirements Based in Alconbury Weston Freephone - 0800 689 0894

Use your local removal company

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The Betrayals

by Fiona Neill

Sometimes there are four sides to a story. Daisy has just got her life back together after battling through years of OCD. But then a letter arrives addressed to her mother, which threatens to open old wounds and reveal the secrets Daisy has tried so hard to keep hidden. The Betrayals was awarded the Richard & Judy Book Club 2017 Thriller award, and it’s easy to see why. An emotive novel about the complexities of family life, mental illness, betrayals and the fallibility of memories.

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