Alconbury December 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 93 - December 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Win an Introductory Lesson at

Cambridge Gliding Club Christmas

Traditions Win £100

in our Christmas Quiz

Bringing Local Business to Local People Every Month in Alconbury, Grafham, Kimbolton, The Stukeleys ur and all surrounding areas Yo EE R py

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Inside this issue...

Christmas Traditions

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Christmas Traditions.................................................... 4 Cranberry, Orange and Nut Loaf.................................. 8 Win a Lesson at Cambridge Gliding Club......... 10 Win £100 in our Christmas Quiz...................... 12 The Liquid Deli - DemiJohn....................................... 15 Sporty Styles to Suit Everyone................................... 16 Christmas at Ragdale Hall Spa................................... 19 The Gift of Experience............................................... 21 Crowd Cuckoo Land................................................... 22 The Holly and the Ivy................................................ 27

Feeding Garden Birds during the Winter................... 28 Lexus Luxury Goes Beyond Looks.............................. 31 Your Festive Gadget Survival Guide........................... 32 Camargue - Provence on the Wild Side...................... 34 Puzzle Page............................................................... 36 What’s On in December............................................. 38 Win £15 in the Villager Prize Crossword.......... 42 Book Review............................................................. 44 Classifieds................................................................. 46 Useful Numbers........................................................ 47

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Feeding Garden Birds

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, Jennie Billings, Louise Addison, Robert Grant, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, Solange Hando and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Svetlana Kolpakova 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

Christmas Traditions Christmas seems to come around sooner each year, with decorations in the shops from September onwards. However, at one time, people would decorate their homes on Christmas Eve as it was considered unlucky to do so any earlier.

The Bible does not mention an actual date for the birth of Jesus, so in 300AD Pope Julius I decided that Christ’s birthday (Christmas Day) should be on 25th December. The Midwinter Solstice on 21st December was already a traditional pagan celebration, so by doing this Pope Julius effectively combined both.

During the Midwinter Solstice homes would be decorated with evergreens, and a Yule Log – the first log of winter – would be ceremonially burnt to ward off evil on the night of the shortest day. This is the reason the word ‘yule’ relates to Christmas (only the real log has been turned into a chocolate cake!)

Christians took holly as a symbol of Christ’s crown, the berries representing his blood. Mistletoe, which the Druids regarded as sacred because it effectively grows ‘in the air’, was also adopted by Christianity, the white berries reflecting the purity of the Virgin.

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The Victorians set many of our modern Christmas traditions, such as cards and tinsel. During the festive season, mistletoe was hung in the entrance to the house as a sign of peace and goodwill.

Because it is usual to greet people with a hug and a kiss when they arrive, ‘kissing under the mistletoe’ evolved into a custom by Victorian times.

Christmas trees came over from Germany towards the end of the 1700s and were popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Trees would be decorated with real candles, strings of glass beads, candies and handmade ornaments of paper, wax, silver wire and blown glass. Just as today, the tree was topped with an angel, usually made of tin with a wax face, or with a star to symbolise the foretelling of the birth of Jesus.

The first tinsel was made from real silver, stretched into very thin strips. Paper decorations, including paper chains, were also popular. Woolworths is said to have been the first shop to sell commercial Christmas tree ornaments in 1880, and the earliest electric Christmas tree lights were invented by Thomas Edison. By the 1930s, the first artificial trees and tinsel were available.

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Many of our Christmas customs originated in Europe. Gingerbread baked with honey, and Christmas decorations made from beeswax or glass, were available in markets across Europe 400 years ago. The advent calendar, with its little doors hiding biblical pictures, originated in Germany.

Mince pies were invented in medieval times.

They were originally made with minced lamb in homage to the shepherds of the Nativity. As was popular then, fat, dried fruit, peel and spices were added to the meat. There were 13 ingredients in total, representing the apostles. Although we no longer use minced lamb alongside the dried fruit, peel, suet and spices, the term ‘mincemeat’ to describe the filling has endured.

Turkeys were brought to Britain in 1526 and it is said that King Henry VIII was the first to eat a turkey for Christmas dinner. However, goose, being large enough to feed an extended family over the festive season, remained the most popular choice until the 1950s when turkey took over.

Father Christmas also has his beginnings in Europe. St Nicholas or ‘Sinterklaas’ (from which we derive Santa Claus) was a second-century saint known for giving gifts to the poor. His spirit was said to visit children on the night of the 5th December. In Holland, wooden shoes or clogs

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would be left next to the hearth filled with an edible treat and straw for St Nicholas’ horse (from where we get the custom of putting out a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer). In return, St Nicholas would leave a small gift. As the custom spread across Europe, stockings began to be used instead of shoes.

It is believed that an English baker, Tom Smith, invented the Christmas cracker by taking a sweet and a love motto and wrapping them in a strip of paper impregnated with a compound that ‘cracked’ when opened. In time, the wrapper was lengthened and small novelty gifts replaced the sweet. The first Christmas crackers went on sale in London in 1847 and Walter Smith, Tom’s son, started including paper hats.

The first known Christmas card was made by Sir Henry Cole of The British Postal Service in 1843.

Although it is often claimed that Coca Cola was responsible for putting Santa in red as part of a 1930s marketing campaign, it was the Victorians who first depicted Father Christmas in a red suit.

Previously, the traditional colour for Saint Nicholas was green and you can still find some early Victorian Christmas cards where Father Christmas is wearing a green suit as well as those where he is wearing a red one.

By Catherine Rose

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Food & Drink

Cranberry, Orange and Nut Loaf

This simple cake makes a delicious alternative to a classic rich fruit Christmas cake. It will keep un-iced in an airtight container for a few days. Add the icing and fresh cranberry topping on the day of serving.

Serves: 8-10 Ready in: 1hr 45mins, plus cooling

Ingredients 175g unsalted butter, softened 175g golden caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 2 tsp ground mixed spice ½ tsp baking powder 3 large eggs 75g sweetened dried cranberries 50g walnuts, chopped 50g hazelnuts, chopped Zest of 1 orange 1 tbsp orange juice Frosting Half of a 400g tub ready-made royal icing 2 tsp snowflake sugar sprinkles 75g fresh cranberries Fresh mint sprigs, to decorate (optional)

1 Preheat the oven to 170C, 150C fan, gas mark 3.

Grease a 900g loaf tin and line the base and up two long sides of the tin with baking parchment.

2 Place the butter, sugar, flour, spice, baking powder and eggs in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk for 2-3 minutes until thoroughly combined. Fold in the dried cranberries, nuts and orange zest and juice.

3 Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the surface. Bake for 1hr-1 hr 15 minutes or until risen and golden and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

4 Spread the royal icing over the top of the cake.

Scatter over the sugar sprinkles and fresh cranberries, plus the fresh mint sprigs if using.

Leave in a cool place until set. Serve sliced.

TIP: Instead of the fresh cranberries you could scatter over more festive-themed sugar sprinkles and add a dusting of edible gold spray for a really sparkly finish.

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WIN AN INTRODUCTORY LESSON AT CAMBRIDGE GLIDING CLUB Cambridge Gliding Club was founded in 1935 as Cambridge University Gliding Club but changed its name on moving to Gransden Lodge in 1991. CGC continues to host Cambridge University GC and their members are a vibrant part of our activities. It also operates a motor glider for Hertfordshire Scouts and introduces several hundred of them to the sport of gliding annually.

The Club is predominantly run by its members, of which there are over 160. Additionally the Cadet scheme, with about 20 members and 35-45 CUGC brings the total to nearly 230. The Club fleet of four dual-control gliders, four single seat ones for solo pilots and 70 privately owned ones can make it a very busy airfield on good gliding days!

Although local residents will often see gliders silently circling overhead this is not all that CGC pilots do! We train 20 -30 new members to go solo annually, the distance record is 981 kilometres and the height record 12,992’ - and you will often see us flying aerobatics!

It is possible to go solo from age 14 and there is no upper age limit. Pilots must meet medical requirements similar to a UK driving licence. There are certain height and weight limitations.

CGC holds an Open Day annually and encourages members of the public to come and see what we do, – many even take an Introductory Lesson which can booked, at a discount, on, and for, that day. In 2020 it will be on Sunday, May 3rd from 10:30 a.m. Vouchers for a variety of Introductory Lessons can be bought on-line from the Club website at https://www.camgliding.uk/product-category/introductory-flight/ and make ideal Christmas or birthday presents..

For further details see www.camgliding.uk, contact the office on-line at office@camgliding.uk, or call 01767 677077 to book an Introductory Lesson.

CAMBRIDGE GLIDING CLUB COMPETITION ENTRY

When is the 2020 Cambridge Gliding Club Open Day?



For a chance to win a free 3,000’ aerotow and Introductory Lesson (worth £147) simply answer the question and complete the form below and send to: Cambridge Gliding Club, Competition, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP. Deadline: 16th December 2019

Name: Tel: Email: Address: 10 10

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For your chance to win £100 in our Christmas Quiz Simply answer the questions below and send your entry to: Christmas Quiz, Villager Publications Ltd, 24 Market Square, Potton, Bedfordshire SG19 2NP by 16th December 2019

Win £100 in our Christmas Quiz

1. Now red, what colour was Father Christmas’s suit originally?

2. What is the main ingredient of marzipan?

3. In what decade did artificial Christmas trees first become commercially available?

4. What is the meaning of the word Advent?

5. A Victorian Christmas often included Smoking Bishop but what is it?

6. How many ingredients were traditionally put in a medieval mince pie?

7. Which saint is Father Christmas based on?

8. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure famously wrote the charity song Do They Know it’s Christmas? What was the year?

9. What is the little boy called in Raymond Briggs’ classic Christmas story The Snowman?

10. From which country does eggnog originate?

11. By what name do French children know Father Christmas?

12. What was the Roman festival that pre-dates Christmas?

The team at The Villager would like to wish readers and advertisers

a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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Food and Drink

The Liquid Deli - DemiJohn There are numerous liqueurs which can be located and, depending on liking and tastes, are every good, too. For hundreds of years liqueurs have been made, loved and appreciated, being one of the most popular alcoholic drinks around. Different herbs and fruits are included in the ingredients for the recipes, many of which are closely-guarded. If cocktails are a passion, then liqueurs will add a ‘zing’ and turn ok into the ‘WOW’ factor.

Demijohn, a liquid deli, was established during 2004 by Angus and Frances Ferguson. This family-run company quickly gained a reputation for high-quality liqueurs. Multi award-winning Demijohn goes to great lengths to source new ingredients, liqueurs, spirits, oils and vinegars from many locations in the UK and Europe. Eye-catching, beautifully-shaped glass bottles, decanters and containers, of various sizes, are an added bonus for the impressive presentation of products. The bottles, decanters and containers are reusable and a complimentary personal message can be included, on request. From the popular productions, utilising many fruits, including raspberries, damsons, cherries, blackcurrants and gooseberries, to rhubarb vodka and apricot brandy, plus so much more, there are plenty of choices and something for all tastes and palates, including organics. Several have a ‘following’ of devotees and regularly grace a great number of dining occasions-particularly a fine, favourite liqueur, for accompanying desserts or to enjoy afterwards. I located chocolate rum liqueur and found this exceptional, with outstanding balance, texture and flavour. Toffee whisky liqueur is very popular, as are Demijohn’s limoncello liqueur and also walnut liqueur, plus grapefruitcello – superb!

Stores are located in Glasgow and York, with more planned. Online ordering is available (and easy), too.

Deliveries are efficient and reliable. Liqueurs, whiskies, wines and spirits are all within their excellent ranges, plus superb oils and vinegars. Hampers and attractive gift packages are available, plus gift vouchers – perhaps surprise someone special? The website has all details and includes information on products, recipes, as well as particulars about gifts, weddings and ceremonies, also how to book a tasting event – now there’s a thought!

Excellent and impressive products, presented with distinction.

Tel: 0845 604 8350 Email: info@demijohn.co.uk www.demijohn.co.uk

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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House of Colour

Sporty Styles to Suit Everyone 4.

5.

Are you thinking of starting a new sport or getting fit in the new year? We all know the physical benefits of exercise are numerous, but many of us get put off even starting because we feel self-conscious about how we look, so here are our top sporty styling tips, to help give you that boost of confidence to hit the ground running in 2020!

1. Exercise bras. Whatever the exercise, make sure you are wearing the right bra. Sports bras usually provide three levels of support; low, medium and high depending on your breast size and on the type of the exercise you are doing; for example low support may be required for yoga but high support for running and netball.

Wearing the right fitting bra looks better, feels better and can even improve how well we perform during exercise, whilst wearing the wrong bra can result in breast pain and even soft tissue damage. Sports bras are stylish these days so head to a reputable lingerie or department store, get measured and find out what type of support you need.

2. Yoga leggings. Wearing, comfy, supportive and flattering yoga leggings will make you feel more confident and energized. They need to have smooth seams, so they don’t rub and are not too restrictive. Test their flexibility and ensure they are properly opaque! Leggings come in a huge variety of lengths, colours and prints, so have fun choosing a pair in your wow colours or a flattering pattern to reflect your personality.

What’s more sports leggings can look fantastic paired with cosy knitwear in your style for relaxing around the house.

3. Swimwear. Don’t be tempted to just go for a dark muted colour thinking it will be more

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flattering. By choosing swimmers in your wow colours, your eyes will sparkle and people will be drawn to look at your face, so you don’t need to worry about any stretch marks (not that you should worry, lots of us have them , they are just another gorgeous part of what makes you, you!).

Base layers. Use natural fibers for your base layers. Look to buy sports tops made from cotton, bamboo or merino wool is brilliant at wicking away moisture, will keep you warm and is soft on the skin.

Choose tops at a length that flatters your proportions but be streamlined and avoid feeling bulky. Try a playful pop of colour contrast between your layers.

Water bottle. Choose a reusable, environmentally friendly water bottle, such as BPA free plastic, bamboo or metal and opt for one of your favourite wow colours as your musthave sporty accessory.

Sports trainers. Get fitted for the right sports trainers for your foot and body architecture and the type of sports you intend to be doing and select a fabulous colour or gorgeous detail to express your personality.

Fashion trainers have to have their own mention because they are also oh so on trend paired with jeans, dresses and skirts and there is an abundance of styles to choose from. Chunky soles can add a little height, but don’t go for extremes if you have shorter legs. If you have wider feet, make sure you choose something that is not restrictive but sleek may be better than super chunky soled trainers. Be sure to shop around. Flatforms may look fab on your friend, but you may be a sparkly sneakers sort of person.

Running clothes. If you are a runner you will want leggings that stay in place, so you don’t have to yank your waistband up. Look for a handy inner pocket to pop your house key in.

Choose a wind and waterproof jacket in your wow colour with the dual purpose of increasing your visibility on wintry days and looking like you were born to run.

By Jennie Billings, Colour and Style Consultant, House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk/jenniebillings e:jennie.billings@houseofcolour.co.uk

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05/12/2016 11:03 Please mention The Villager and Town Life when responding to adverts

Local News

Give the gift of ‘me-time’ this Christmas at Ragdale Hall Spa This Christmas, why not treat your loved one to a luxurious pampering spa experience they won’t ever forget!

Combining state-of-the-art facilities with the charm of traditional Victorian architecture, Ragdale Hall Spa offers the most luxurious and extensive spa facilities in the country – including a newly opened Rooftop Infinity Pool (Ragdale Hall’s sixth pool!).

All vouchers are valid for a whole year and come beautifully packaged in a presentation pack with a voucher wallet and brochure, ready to place under the Christmas tree.

Gift vouchers can be ordered online at www.ragdalehall.co.uk or by telephone on 01664 433030.

Still need convincing? Ragdale Hall offers: • State-of-the-art facilities including Rooftop Infinity Pool • Multi-million pound Thermal Spa featuring

Candle Pool, indoor and outdoor Waterfall Pool and a series of heat experiences • Spa days and spa breaks from just a few hours to a full seven days, plus a variety of fitness and specialist breaks • Exercise sessions, gym, mountain bike hire and tennis courts included at no extra charge Ragdale Hall Gift Vouchers can be tailored to suit the lucky recipient; give them a spa day or spa break voucher, or a monetary value voucher they can spend how they choose. And if they’ve already booked their visit, Treatment Vouchers are the perfect way to make their experience even better!

Gift vouchers can be ordered online at www.ragdalehall.co.uk or by telephone on 01664 433030.

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Time of Year

By Louise Addison

The Gift of Experience When I was younger it used to drive me mad when my dad said ‘I don’t want anything for Christmas...’

How could he say that? Then a couple of years ago I realised I’d become him. I don’t want or even need more of anything. Many of my friends feel the same.

We don’t want to add to plastic or clothes waste.

We don’t want clutter. Yet the pleasure of giving and receiving at Christmas is something most of us enjoy, so why not give a gift experience instead.

A National Trust Membership - Allows the recipient access to around 500 historic houses and gardens, monuments, social history sites, and beaches.

Tickets to see a favourite band or artist perform Or perhaps a local artist they’ve never seen, or music event they’ve never attended. Live music is a great night out, and even better if you gift two tickets so they can take a friend.

An up-close and personal experience with their favourite animal or insect - My friend loves hedgehogs so I paid for her to spend a day at the local hedgehog hospital. She learned all about hedgehogs and helped to feed and weigh them.

She still talks about it today. You can buy ‘meet the animal’ experiences for every beastie from spiders to lemurs. There’s bound to be something for the animal-lover in your life.

Tickets to a movie marathon - Whether your intended recipient is into sci-fi, horror, fantasy, musicals or old black and white movies, there will be an enterprising cinema or theatre running a specialist event. If they are not into a particular genre then a season pass to a cinema or theatre will allow them to watch whatever they want.

Wine, whiskey or gin tasting session - What could be nicer than sharing an evening touring a winery or distillery learning about the flavours and techniques involved in producing their favourite tipple.

Cooking class - Classes can be for a particular type of cuisine, like Chinese or Thai, or for a particular technique like bread-making. There are generally other like-minded souls there so your recipient will make new friends.

Spa treatment day – Life is stressful so very few people would turn their nose up at being pampered for a few hours.

An escape room experience - If your intended recipient is into puzzles try tickets to an escape room. It’s a fun experience for everyone and a great gift for a family.

A masterclass in something they love photography, juggling, golf, painting, writing... there are classes online and in the real world for any subject or skill you can think of.

The happiness we experience from acquiring things fades very quickly. Experiences are a bigger part of ourselves than material goods. We are the sum total of our experiences and they stay with us for longer because of the way they are encoded in the brain.

Each time we think about the experience we feel that same sense of happiness we felt initially. They are truly the gift that keeps on giving.

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Business

By Robert Grant

Crowd Cuckoo Land

Can you trust crowdfunding?

Every day some new gadget appears that we never knew we needed. Many of these new innovations are from the big companies, but more are now originating from micro businesses which use crowdfunding to raise their start-up cash. But what is crowdfunding and is it safe to buy from a company that may still be designing your gadget?

Crowdfunding is replacing some of the more traditional ways which raised money to fund the development of an idea into a saleable product.

Instead of borrowing from a bank or mortgaging their homes, entrepreneurs ask people like you to buy their products whilst they are still at the design stage. Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have sprung up to highlight campaigns and manage the funding process. You can browse people’s ideas, monitor progress, view promo videos and then choose from a range of purchase options to donate your cash and help the project get going.

And this is where crowdfunding is not the same as buying a product. You give your money to the company and they promise to deliver your purchase as soon as they can. They don’t guarantee to deliver, nor to give you back your money if they fail.

So, there are some risks to crowdfunding.

From big ideas to tiny niche products it’s all there.

By purchasing before the launch you’ll get a great discount on the final retail price and earn a warm

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feeling that you really did help bring a product into existence. If you don’t want to buy an item, you can usually donate a small amount and receive some token thank you merchandise in return.

Keep in mind that these projects are still mostly on the drawing board. Some sites like Kickstarter require the designers to have a prototype and be totally open about the state of the project; others don’t. Read all the documentation and update information before parting with your cash. All projects carry the risk that the idea won’t reach the manufacture stage, or that the developers will run off with the cash! Delivery dates are generally over optimistic with most projects falling at least a little behind, so don’t back a project with a delivery date in November if you need it for Christmas.

Crowdfunding has produced some great success stories. Pebble Watches raised over $20 million for its first smart watch and became a leader in that field before being bought out by Fitbit. The Exploding Kittens game raised $9 million and is now selling through major high street shops. But others haven’t done as well. Ellio Motors raised $17 million for its 3-wheeler car but managed to burn through the cash and never produced a single vehicle.

So, take a look at what’s out there, but do your homework and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

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Garden View

The Holly and the Ivy

By Rachael Leverton

The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown, of all the trees that are in the wood the holly bears the crown.

There’s no doubt that holly and ivy are synonymous with Christmas. This dates back to pre-Christian era when pagans used evergreen decorations in their mid-winter celebrations. It’s not hard to see why they were attracted to these beautiful plants which offer a promise of better times to come during the most barren time of the year.

Early Christians adopted them too and imbued holly particularly with Christian symbolism. In the carol, ivy isn’t actually mentioned again until the last verse which is a repeat of the first. It has a cameo role because of earlier songs, such as ‘The Contest of The Ivy and The Holly,’ in which the attributes of holly (male) and ivy (female) are compared. Our ancestors lived close to the earth and the seasons and were open to symbolism. As modern gardeners we might be sceptical of the symbolism, but we can embrace the glory of these seasonal plants.

Ivy (Hedera) comes in many sizes, from the tinyleaved ‘Spetchley’ to the hand-sized leaves of ‘Maple Leaf’. It also comes in a beautiful variety of colours from the rich green, crimped leaves of ‘Parsley crested’ which makes great ground cover, to the gorgeous red-stemmed yellow leaves of the climber ‘Sunrise’.

By Rachael Leverton

For winter baskets I’d recommend the lime-green ‘Ursula’ and her grey-leaved friend ‘Frederick’.

Ivy is a doddle to grow. There are only a few things to remember. Cut it back in spring to encourage new growth and take cuttings between October and March when the growth is woody. Yellow varieties need sunshine and don’t let any of it grow into your eaves. Other than that, it is your undemanding gardening friend.

Holly (Ilex) is pretty easy-going too. It will grow almost anywhere except really water-logged soil.

It’s tolerant of pollution, salt and wind and grows really slowly, so it’s great for small gardens in the city and by the sea.

Protect it from rabbits if they frequent your garden as they love to eat the bark. Trim it in August if you have to and remove plain green shoots on variegated varieties. Take cuttings in the late summer or autumn. It does resent root disturbance once it’s established so make sure you plant it in the right place first time.

Hollies are male or female but not necessarily named to help you distinguish. ‘Silver Queen’ is actually male and ‘Martin’ is female! You’ll need both for berries so talk to an expert at the nursery or garden centre to be sure…or google the answer on your phone! If you only have room for one holly bush, grow a self-fertile variety such as ‘J C Van Tol’.

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Happy Gardening

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Pets

Feeding Garden Birds

During the Winter to visiting your garden, and may struggle to find alternative sources of food should you suddenly stop.

Scrub your feeders regularly in hot soapy water, and give them a good rinse. Clear away any accumulations of droppings or spilled seeds. Keep feeders free of wet or mouldy foods.

Why not try making this tasty recipe for the wildlife in your garden this winter.

Fat Cakes for Birds

Feeding birds in our gardens is possibly the most popular way for people to interact with nature. Most people do it during the cold winter months in order to help the birds survive. Around 75% of UK households feed the birds in their gardens. Winter can be a difficult time for wildlife.

Temperatures plummet and food becomes very difficult to find. But we can lend a helping hand and provide sources of food for birds to turn to in the tough winter months.

So what should we be feeding our feathery friends? Is there anything else we can be doing for them apart from putting food out regularly?

• Provide appropriate seeds and grains (like nyjer, millet, oats, and sunflower seeds).

• Only feed peanuts if they’re unsalted, fresh and sold for human consumption or by a reputable feed shop.

• Why not try cooked pasta or rice, boiled potatoes, cheese, uncooked and unsalted bacon rind, raisins and sultanas.

• Net-free fat or suet balls attract a wide range of species and provide a great boost of calories.

• Apples, pears and soft fruits are popular and are a great autumn food.

• Insects such as mealworms or waxworms.

It is best to place feeders up high, above the height at which a cat can reach. Avoid leaving food on the ground, as any small mammals and birds eating it will become vulnerable to cats.

Keep water bowls full of clean water. Check them regularly especially during frosty or snowy periods.

Once you start putting food out for the birds, try to keep it up. Try to keep regularly topping up the feeders. The birds you are feeding will get used

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What you need: Equipment Bowl, saucepan, spoon, string, old yoghurt pots.

Ingredients Lard, unsalted peanuts, currants, sultanas, oats, breadcrumbs, cake crumbs, grated cheese.

Method 1) The ideal ratio for this recipe is one part fat to two parts dry. Mix together all of your dry ingredients in a bowl.

2) Melt some lard in a pan and add the dry mix.

Next stir really well until the fat has all been absorbed and the mixture binds and sticks together.

3) Make a small hole in the bottom of an old yoghurt pot and thread a piece of string through it. Tie a knot at the bottom of the string to keep it in place.

4) Now carefully spoon the warm fat mixture into the pot and gently press it down.

5) Leave the fat cakes to solidify by placing them in the fridge.

6) Once they have set carefully cut the pot off the fat cake.

7) Finally, hang the cake in a tree or bush for your feathery friends to enjoy.

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Motoring

Lexus Luxury Goes Beyond Looks Lexus’ UX 250 will certainly turn heads, and not from the noise. Its striking looks and angles make for a distinctive and arresting aesthetic.

The rear lamps connect in a high-tech looking full-width strip. Triggered by ambient light levels, the auto-illuminating front LED lights give the aggressive front a poised stance, and the huge front grille that wraps around the front is unlike anything else on the market.

Interior - The front of the UX’s cabin is where Lexus excels. The space feels generous and welcoming, and material quality is excellent. As usual, Lexus touts its superior craftsmanship – called Takumi – and named the top-end trim package after it.

Several other trim options are available, as well as the standard model.

The seats are comfortable, but rear space is limited.

Passenger storage is reasonable, but not superb.

There’s a smallish glovebox and front door bins, along with a central armrest cubby and a couple of cup holders. Rear-seat passengers are served with a couple of map pockets but no door bins.

The Drive - The UX combines precise steering with good body control and resilient grip to feel quite keen in corners. It doesn’t wobble the way a tall SUV might, due to its lower centre of gravity. This combined with a seating position lower than other SUVs, the UX feels more car-like to manoeuvre.

The brake pedal can feel awkward, owing to the hybrid system trying to balance regenerative braking to charge the battery with conventional deceleration.

Speaking of the hybrid system, it features a new four-cylinder 176bhp 2.0-litre petrol-electric hybrid powertrain with direct-shift continuously variable transmission (CVT). It is self-charging and benefits from regenerative braking, so there’s no plug to

worry about. Economy estimates of 68.9-65.7mpg and emissions of 96-103g/km CO2 (for the 17- and 18-inch wheel front-wheel drive models) should prove useful in driving down your carbon footprint.

Infotainment System - Lexus’ unique infotainment system can leave users wanting. The sat nav, for example, is awkward and notoriously fiddly. It’s an older postcode-based system, which makes searching by house or road number first impossible, and a limited database prevents some destinations from being entered. There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto either, despite there being two USB ports available.

A highly sensitive mousemat-like controller is used somewhat erratically to select options on screen.

Luckily, the UX’s panel of physical buttons below the dash offer more conventional controls for climate and more.

Key specs • Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl, twin electric motor • Transmission: CVT automatic, front-wheel drive • Power: 179bhp • 0-60mph: 8.5 seconds • Top speed: 110mph • Economy/CO2: 53.3mpg/97g/km For • Very comfortable seats make for great long or short drives • Hybrid powertrain helps keep tax cost and emissions down • Peppy drive from a CVT gearbox • Low CO2 Emissions Against • Cramped rear seat and storage space • Poor towing ability • Difficult to use on-board tech • No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto

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Technology

Your festive gadget survival guide Make sure your technology is happy this Christmas

For many households, Christmas means lots of new gadgets under the tree – and if you’re not prepared, that could mean a distinct lack of Christmas cheer if people can’t play with their new toys on Christmas morning.

It’s still wise to have batteries of all sizes (ideally rechargeable ones) in common sizes such as AA, AAA and CR2032 for things like talking toys, games console controllers, radio car controllers and so on, but it might be wise to consider a few other things too.

First of all, make sure you have a multi-tool or small toolkit to hand. Many toys now come either in hard-to-open transparent plastic, or with lots of cable ties and screws to stop people stealing them from their packaging. Some sharp scissors and a small cross-head screwdriver will be a big help here.

Think about chargers, too. Not all gadgets such as phones and tablets arrive charged, and the ones that do are going to need

charging after a morning of intensive use. Check the devices that Santa’s bringing either come with charging cables or that you have the appropriate ones already. We’ve also found portable chargers (power banks) to be really useful for long trips to visit the family; if your car has a power/cigar lighter socket, investing in a USB adapter and a very long phone charging cable could be worthwhile.

One of the biggest Christmas technology traumas is when games controllers are involved.

Now that most games require an internet connection, consoles need to be running the most up-to-date system software before use, and downloading and installing that software can take hours. It’ll take longer still on Christmas morning if half of your street or block is doing that or streaming Christmas films on Netflix, so if at all possible try to connect the console and download the updates before Santa gets in his sleigh.

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Last but definitely not least, expect the unexpected. Make sure your home insurance covers the additional technology items that you’ve got in your home – some insurers, but not all, automatically increase your contents cover over the festive period – and make sure you keep receipts for any expensive items such as computers or smartphones. If any gadgets are easily broken or smashed – tablets are particularly prone to accidental injuries – then it’s a very good idea to invest in a protective case and/or screen protector.

It’s also worth considering a dedicated gadget insurance policy if your home is now full of expensive and easily broken devices. Such policies tend to have reasonably low excesses – for example, having to pay £50 to replace the screen on an Apple Watch sounds like a lot, but Apple charges nearly £300 – and cover loss and theft as well as damage.

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Travel

Camargue - Provence on the Wild Side As the river Rhône approaches the Mediterranean, it splits into the Grand Rhône and the Petit Rhône to form one of the largest deltas in Europe. This is the ‘Camargue’, an enticing place unlike anywhere else in France, where marshlands and lagoons glisten in the sun, fringed by broad windswept sands to the south while paddies, orchards and wheat spread on the fertile plain.

But the deeper you head into the delta, the wilder the land strung with lakes and dunes, deserted beaches, sand bars, meadows and ponds festooned in tamarisks and yellow irises – and at the heart of it all, the saltwater lagoon of Vaccarès, which looks almost like a sea. Orchids and forgetme-nots splash colour here and there and along the coast delicate sand lilies, golden immortelles and sea lavender flutter in the breeze. With just ten inhabitants per square kilometre, these vast open spaces almost feel like the end of the earth, and although there are a few roads around the more isolated areas are easier to reach on horseback, as the locals do. There are guesthouses and stables where anyone can learn to ride or join a guided trek to enjoy a landscape with no boundaries.

Scenery aside, the Camargue has a character all of its own, steeped in age-old culture and traditions.

There may be few humans about but you’re sure to come across a paddock where white Camargue horses gallop semi-wild, manes flying in the wind, or you might find a whitewashed traditional

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cottage thatched with reeds and shaped like a prow to withstand storms, a saltpan, a stretch of barren land or a ranch called ‘manade’ where black bulls are bred for the game of ‘cocarde’.

The protected wetlands and coast attract around 350 bird species, from raptors and waterfowls to song and sea birds. Magpies and jackdaws are common but it’s always a treat to spot a colourful bee-eater, a crested hoopoe or a roller pirouetting in the air on a spectacular courtship dance. Yet, above all others, pink flamingos are the icon of the Camargue, wading in shallow lagoons, amazingly peaceful until something disturbs the peace and the whole colony takes flight, shrieking through a magnificent cloud of flaming colours. In the spring, thousands of chicks are born in the Regional Park, all fluffy and white, for it will take several years for them to turn pink. Some will stay in the Camargue throughout the winter; others take off across the sea in search of warmer climes.

But when you reach the coast don’t expect glittering resorts, for this is still the wild ‘cowboy land’. Just look out for the lonely walled village of Aigues-Mortes, once a sea port, now inland, and Les-Saintes-Maries de la Mer, 8,000 residents and capital of the Camargue where gypsies from far and wide honour their patron saint on an annual pilgrimage. As visitors like to say, wherever you come from, ‘there is no place like the Camargue’.

By Solange Hando

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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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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation 37

n O s ’ t Wha In December

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

1 December Keyston Christmas Craft & Gift Fayre 11am-4pm Keyston Village Hall Free entry. Lots of stalls selling varied and unique gifts. Christmas raffle with fantastic prizes drawn at 3pm. Free parking.

1 December Hemingford Ladies Choir Sing Winter Music 3pm St Ives Free Church Retiring Collection in support of St Ives Free Church.

Refreshments provided.

1 December Buckden Christmas Market & Lights Switch 2-5pm Market stalls, Santa's Grotto, hot food and drinks, music, crafts, gifts and much more!

1, 8 & 15 December Countdown to Christmas 11am-2pm approx.

Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park A variety of local bands and music groups perform live providing a festive feel for the park. Check out the Visitor Centre for that unique gift and pop into the café for a festive treat. www.neneparktrust.org 1, 8, 15 & 22 December Elves Workshop 11am-2pm Discovery Den, Ferry Meadows Country Park Free entry – donations welcome. All the family can make something festive in the elves workshop.

Web: www.neneparktrust.org 4 December Brampton Flower Club 7pm for 7.30pm start Community Centre, High Street, Brampton Visitors £6 on the door. Demonstration by Susan Horne with ‘Oh no it isn’t’. Tel: Jan 01480 531822 Web: www.bramptonflowerclub.com 4 December Little Paxton Gardening Club 8pm Little Paxton Village Hall Members £1, Non-members £2.

Tel: Jane 01480 218805 or Margaret 01480 383989 Email: lpgardeningclub@hotmail.com

6 December Nine Below Zero Concert 7pm Cambridge Junction ‘Are We There Yet?’ 40th Anniversary tour 1979-2019.

40 years since Nine Below Zero first offered a rhythm and blues alternative to the punk-pop of the mainstream, the south Londoners announce their ‘Are We There Yet?’ tour. With a reputation as “one of the best blues bands around today” for their scintillating live performances, this tour will not disappoint. Web: ents24.com 6 December St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School ‘Was the Christmas Star really a star?’ by Dr Sonali Shukla. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk

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6, 13 & 20 December Friday Night Lights 7.30-8.30pm Longsands Academy Astro, Longsands Road, St Neots St Neots Hockey Club. Friday Night Lights aims to provide the local community with the opportunity to experience hockey in a casual environment.

Tel: Chris (Club Development Officer) 07792 044878 Email: cjbryden08@hotmail.co.uk 6, 13, 20 & 27 December Friday Night Drinks 7.30-11pm Buckworth Cricket Club, Church Road, Buckworth, Huntingdon Join us at the Club to celebrate the end of the week, have a drink, play pool, darts and skittles and relax.

Web: www.buckworthcricketclub.co.uk 7 December Art & Craft Fair 9.30am-4pm Free Church Hall, St Ives Quality handmade art and craft stalls. Tombola.

7 December Christmas Gifts & Crafts Fair 10am-3pm The King’s Suite, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Godmanchester Free entry. Lots of wonderful stalls and charity raffle. www.facebook.com/events/719385215160033/ 7 December St Neots Timebank Coffee Morning 11am-1pm St Mary’s Church Rooms, St Neots Christmas Art & Craft sale. Come and enjoy a mince pie and some mulled wine (or coffee).

Tel: 07590 909057 www.stneotstimebank.org.uk 7 December Christmas Market 3-7pm St James’ Church, Little Paxton Gifts, cakes and puddings, Bedford Brass Band, Father Christmas, BBQ and Mulled Wine.

Light switch on at 5pm. Web: tinyurl.com/ littlepaxtonchristmas 7 & 8 December ArtsFEST 10am-4pm Corn Exchange, St Ives Free entry. Annual St Ives art and photography exhibition.

7 & 14 December Huntingdon Music School 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School The music school operates lessons and ensemble groups on Saturday mornings during term-time.

Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk 8 December St Neots Concert Band Christmas Concert Series 5pm St Neots United Reformed Church, High Street, St Neots Advance adults £8, on the door £10, under 18s free Email: info@stneotsconcertband.com

8 December Fenton's Herbology 11am-12.30pm Visitor Centre, Ferry Meadows Country Park £15. Get the lowdown on healing plants that you can use to ease the symptoms of over indulgence during the festive season! From bloating, nausea and heartburn to stress, lethargy and hangovers!

Qualified Medical Herbalist Nicola Fenton. Age 16+.

9 December Godmanchester Trefoil Guild 7.30-9pm Godmanchester Football Ground Trefoil Guild is a branch of Girlguiding for Adults aged 18+. They meet on the second Monday of the month. Email: jeanmking@outlook.com for more info 9 December Little Paxton W I 7.45pm St James' Church Little Paxton WI meets every third Monday of the month, except December when it meets on the second Monday. Email: evans-margaret@sky.com 10 December St Ives Sugarcraft Guild 7.30pm Reading Room, Hemingford Grey Monthly meetings where you can learn, hands on, various cake decorating techniques and/or sugar modelling. Tel: Shirley 01480 454616 for more info 11 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 11 December Knit, Stitch & Natter Group 1.30-3pm St James Church, Little Paxton £2 inc. tea, coffee, cakes & biscuits Tel: June Griffin 01480 39977 11 December Wildlife Trust ‘An Evening with Mike Dilger’ 7.30pm Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton £5 per person. Meet top ornithologist and presenter Mike Dilger. With degrees in both ecology and botany and a life-long passion for natural history, Mike is a well-known face in the world of wildlife presenting with regular appearances on BBC’s The One Show and Inside Out, will be sharing tales of exotic travels. Tel: Alistair Grant 07775 365507 Email: alistairrgrant@hotmail.com 12 December Festive Coffee & Shopping Morning 9am-12 noon Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Free entry. Join us for coffee and cake. Browse for Christmas gifts and stocking fillers from a variety of local stalls including jewellery, original artwork, jams and pickles, stationery, floral arrangements, gift wrap cards and more. Festive raffle. Raising funds to enable three local students to volunteer at Essaman United School in Ghana in July 2020.

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n O s ’ t Wha In December

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

13 December Get Mindful at the Great Fen 1-2.30pm Countryside Classroom Ramsey Heights £3 per person. Take time out to learn meditative and mindfulness techniques on a walk under vast skies and tranquil surroundings of the Wildlife Trust's Great Fen. Tel: 01487 815524 Email: info@greatfen.org.uk Web: www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2019-12-13mindfulness-walks

14 December Hemingford Village Market 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Second Saturday of the month. Food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council surgery should you wish to meet councillors to discuss local issues. Refreshments available in the Hemingford Garden Room.

14 December Huntingdonshire Philharmonic Family Christmas Concert 4pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Huntingdon Tickets £15, Student concession £5. Hunts Phil’s wellloved Family Christmas Concert with a mix of carols old and new, Poulenc: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant Anderson: A Christmas Festival, Poulenc: Gloria, and more… Tickets available online or on the door. Web: www.huntsphil.org.uk 14 December An evening of Festive Fun Offord Village Hall Tickets £5 inc. buffet. Performances by the community for the community.

Tel: Tickets & info Helen Bosworth 01480 811892 14 December Glamtastic go to Paxton 7.30pm-midnight Little Paxton Primary School Fans of kick-ass glam rock everywhere can enjoy this concert with music, a bar and the knowledge that it's all for a good cause. All monies raised will be donated to charities and other good causes, supported by the Rotary Club of Kimbolton Castle.

Web: www.facebook.com/KimboltonRotary/ 15 December St Neots Concert Band Children’s Christmas Concert 2pm Great Paxton Church of England Primary School, Mount Pleasant, Great Paxton Free entry – donations welcome Bring the whole family along to our children's concert and sing along to the ones you know!

15 December Christmas Carols at the Leper Chapel 6.30-8pm Leper Chapel, Barnwell Junction on Newmarket Road, Cambridge Free event – donations welcome If you’re still not feeling Christmassy enough then this event, in the wonderfully atmospheric Leper

Chapel, is sure to get you into a festive mood. The Reverend Dr Roger Williams will be leading the Cottenham Brass Band for carols by candlelight, and you’ll experience the best of the traditional English Christmas. Please dress warmly. No need to book.

No facilities or parking at the chapel; please park in nearby streets, use public transport or by foot.

Tel: 01223 243830 extension 207 Web: visit www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on 16 December St Neots Royal Naval Association 7.30pm The RAFA Club, 44 Huntingdon Street, St Neots St Neots & District Branch of the Royal Naval Association meet on the third Monday of every month. For further details contact the Secretary Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com 17 December Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Neots Library £1 per person. Join us for a slice of cake, some conversation and a cup of coffee or tea.

18 December Carers Coffee Club 2-3.30pm The Royal Oak, Hail Weston Are you caring for a loved one with a memory loss?

Then come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee whilst chatting with others in a similar situation.

Our informal group meets on every third Wednesday of the month. No need to book, just turn up.

Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 for further details Email: kimpigfarmer@tiscali.co.uk 19 December Friends of Paxton Pits Festive Winter Walk 2pm Visitor Centre, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve Adults £3, under 12s £2.50 on the day Explore Paxton Pits Nature Reserve with experienced local experts designed to show you the best of what the reserve has to offer on a winter’s afternoon. Walk starts at the Visitor Centre and last approximately two hours. No need to book. Seasonal refreshments included in the price.

Tel: 01480 406795 19 December Love’s Farm Women’s Institute 8-10pm St Neots Football Club Meets on the third Thursday of the month. Come to make friends and do something new.

Tel: Nikki Jackson 07563 715043 Email: lovesfarmladieswi@gmail.com

20 December Yesterday 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Kimbolton Community Cinema. A struggling musician realizes he's the only person on Earth who can remember The Beatles after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed.

Tickets available from Oliver’s, Old Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café or on the door. Bar, ice creams and free popcorn. Email: jrstratford@hotmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema 21 December A Calm Creative Christmas at Wandlebury 10-11am, 11.30am-12.30pm & 1-2pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge £7 per child age 2+ plus 10% booking fee If you (and your children) find the Christmas run-up all a bit much then do come and join Vital Spark for an outdoor release and some calm creativity with craft, storytelling and nature - all the magic of the season with a natural and mindful slant to the activities. We’re not at all ‘bah humbug’, we just enjoy a little quality family time away from the more commercial side of Christmas! Recommended ages 3-7. Dress for the outdoors and according to the weather. Children must remain accompanied throughout. Booking essential. Parking £3, CambridgePPF members free.

Email: katherine@vitalsparktheatre.org 21 December Lego Club 2-3.30pm St Neots Library 50p per child. See what you can build at our Lego Club! Suitable for children aged 5-11.

22 December Carol Service 4pm Kingfisher Church, Little Paxton Primary School Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk Until 24 December Wildlife Trust Pop up Shop Westgate Arcade, Peterborough Run by staff and volunteers the shop will be stocked with wildlife-themed merchandise - whole ranges of wildlife related goodies from stocking fillers to classy Wrendale designed products and optics such as binoculars and monoculars.

31 December The Sleeping Beauty Assassination 8pm-12.30am United Reformed Church, St Neots Tickets £40 inc. 3 course meal and welcome drink ‘The Sleeping Beauty Assassination’ a Murder Mystery pantomime, will be performed as a fundraiser for next year’s St Neots Passion Play. The 20 December production is being put on by ‘Mystery in History’, the St Neots Timebank Friends & Members Group company that runs ‘Jailbreak’ on behalf of St Neots 11am-1.30pm museum. Bar. Book 5 tickets, get a 6th free.

Priory Centre Tel: Simon Cooper 07870 317312 for further info Join us for a cat and a coffee in the coffee bar to meet Web: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sleeping-beautyfriends old and new. assassination-tickets-72087693231

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Crossword Solution for The Villager November Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Mr J Hoskins from Hitchin North Pole Competition Winner - Sophie Bright from Tilbrook

November’s Codeword and Suduko Solutions

Easy

Hard

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

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The Villager Prize Crossword

Prize

ÂŁ25

Across 1 South American animal (6) 4 Clans (6) 9 Whirlwind (7) 10 Male duck (5) 11 Casseroles (5) 12 Surprised (7) 13 Source of power (11) 18 Cars, buses etc. (7) 20 Dangerous (5) 22 Tacks (5) 23 Graceful (7) 24 Eighth month (6) 25 Flow (6)

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

16th December 2019 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP

Down 1 Painter (6) 2 American handbag (5) 3 Masterpiece (7) 5 Wireless (5) 6 Woollen cover (7) 7 Fast (6) 8 Assembled (11) 14 Departing (7) 15 Right (7) 16 Lines of a verse (6) 17 Method (6) 19 Clenched hands (5) 21 Frighten (5)

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Books

Book Review Banksy You Are an Acceptable Level of Threat

by Gary Shove & Patrick Potter

Little Robin Red Vest

by Jan Fearnley

This is so much more than just a coffee-table-worthy photography collection. For a start, it’s snort-outloud funny. It’s been updated for 2019 and now spans Banky’s career, from the early 90s to 2018.

There are anecdotes, irreverent biographical references and a few hundred photos to pore over.

The Testaments

by Margaret Atwood

The Testaments picks up a few years after The Handmaid’s Tale ended. It weaves together the stories of three women – Daisy, born in Gilead but raised in Canada; Agnes Jemima, who’s desperate to escape the life set out for her by her step-parents; and the infamous Aunt Lydia. We won’t spoil it by giving away too much of the storyline, but it’s fair to say that it’s everything you hoped for and more. Perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale (book or TV series).

The Corset

by Laura Purcell

Ruth Butterham is on trial for murdering her mistress. She confessed to the crime, but is she guilty or delusional? The more that wealthy prison visitor Dorothea Truelove hears of the beaten and broken Ruth’s tale, the less sure she is of who the real villain is in the story. Is Ruth the killer, is there another murderer at large or, as Ruth seems to believe, is the real culprit something far more unlikely? Gripping historical crime fiction sure to appeal to fans of Sarah Waters.

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By Kate Duggan

This classic picture book is now 20 years old. It tells the story of how the robin got his red vest. (Spoiler: Father Christmas gave it to him as a reward for the robin giving away his own woolly vests.) A great story, beautiful illustrations and a feel-good message to top it all off. What more could a young child want from a book on Christmas morning?

Burn After Writing (Teen Edition)

by Rhiannon Shove

A journal with a difference, Burn after Writing invites teens to answer a series of questions to paint a picture of who they are, from ‘The song that makes me want to dance’ to ‘If I had a brainwashing machine, I would use it to’ and ‘Something I do that makes me feel proud of myself’. Perfect for 11 to 14 year olds. (The adult’s version is worth a look too.)

Veg

by Jamie Oliver

Buying for a vegetarian? Or just someone who enjoys healthy food that tastes great and doesn’t take hours to prepare? This book is for them. There are twists on new classics, such as Veggie Moussaka and Vegan Lasagne, and plenty of more inspired dishes that could soon become old favourites, like Masala Stuffed Peppers, Pulled Mushroom Sandwich and Crispy Cauliflower Katsu.

Some take a few minutes to make from scratch, while others are more suitable for chilled-out Sunday brunches or dinners with friends.

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Cleaning Services

Electrician

Frank Plater Electrical Extra sockets - Lighting - Extensions - Re-wires Security Lighting - Showers - Inspections No job too small. Free estimates Established in 1996 Tel: 01480 432154 Mob: 07976 797111

N O T YO U R AV E R A G E H O M E I M P R OV E M E N T C O M PA N Y

INSULATING SPRAYFOAM • BBA APPROVED SPRAYFOAM • CAN GREATLY REDUCE ENERGY BILLS • UPGRADE YOUR PROPERTIES ‘U’ VALUE • ELIMINATES DRAFTS OR ‘DRAW’ FROM THE ROOF SPACE • MESS & HASSLE FREE • QUALIFIES AS AN ESM • FIRE SAFE

0800 046 1080 30% OFF ORDERS PLACED IN DECEMBER hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk 46

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