Alconbury Feb 2021

VILLAGER The

Issue 105 - February 2021

and Town

Life

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

Inside this issue

Valentine’s Day Customs From around the World A Passion for

House Plants Win £25 in our Prize Crossword

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...

Show them you care this Valentine’s Day

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Get Planting...........................................................19 A Lasting Tribute....................................................20 In-Car Technologies that changed the game..........22 Puzzle Page............................................................24 Villager Prize Crossword............................. 28 Books to dip into....................................................30 Useful Numbers.....................................................31

Valentine’s Day Customs Around the World..............4 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe...................................8 Wines: Choosing a Mix...........................................10 A Passion for House Plants.....................................12 Moving House Checklist.........................................14 Virus or Plague?.....................................................15

Get Planting

Show them you care this Valentine’s Day................16

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Get your business off to a flying start this year

Advertise with the Villager Magazine... prices start from just £30.00 +VAT per month Editorial - Catherine Rose, Nick Coffer, Trevor Langley, Katherine Sorrell, Beacon Wealth, Pippa Greenwood, Kate Duggan , RSPCA and Wood Green

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

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

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

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History

By Catherine Rose

St Valentine’s Day Customs

Around the World Valentine’s Day is celebrated across the globe in different ways This month, Valentine’s Day will see us buying our loved ones cards, flowers and gifts and perhaps sharing a romantic meal. Many countries around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day, or an equivalent not necessarily on 14th February.

Always seen as a nation of romantics, it is believed that the first Valentine was sent in France when Charles, Duke of Orleans, wrote love letters to his wife from prison in 1415.

Although Valentine’s Day is celebrated across the country, the French village of Saint-Valentin hosts a special three-day festival from 13th to 15th February, when trees and houses are bedecked with hearts, love letters and red roses. It is traditional for lovers to propose in Le Jardin des Amoreux (The Lovers’ Garden) beneath a decorated willow tree known as Le Saule aux Coeurs (the Willow of Hearts).

One of the precursors to Valentine’s Day was the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia. At this festival, it was customary for women to wear the name of their beloved on their arm. This ritual

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continues in South Africa where women pin paper hearts with the name of their sweetheart onto their sleeves thus letting them know they have a secret admirer. It is possible that this ancient tradition is where the expression ‘wearing your heart on your sleeve’ comes from.

Since the 1930s, women in Japan have presented boxes of fabulously coloured and decorated chocolates on Valentine’s Day. The tradition began there in 1936 when confectioner Morozoff Ltd placed the first advert for Valentine’s Day gifts in an English newspaper aimed at the expatriate community. Over the next forty years Valentine’s Day gained a foothold in Japan, but it is celebrated with a twist because women are the givers.

The chocolate gifts have a definite hierarchy.

Chocolate presented to a lover is honmei-choko, literally meaning ‘favourite’ or ‘sincere’ chocolate, and is sometimes home-made. But women also give chocolate to important men in their life with whom they have no romantic connection, such as their boss. This type of chocolate is called giri-choko or ‘obligation chocolate’. If the woman doesn’t particularly like the recipient but is obliged

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to give them a gift, she might offer the lesser chô-giri choko (very obligatory chocolate). Although the tradition has been for women to give men chocolate, more recently tomo-choko or ‘companion chocolate’ has appeared, in which women also give chocolate boxes to their best girlfriends.

Across some Scandinavian countries, it has become traditional for an admirer to send short love verses known as gaekkbrev on Valentine’s Day. The anonymous poems are signed with dots, each corresponding to a letter in the sender’s name. If the recipient can guess who sent the poem, they will receive an Easter egg from them later in the year.

If they can’t, they have to give an Easter egg to the sender.

In Denmark it is also customary to give pressed flowers, traditionally snowdrops.

Bulgaria celebrates Valentine’s Day with a glass of home-produced wine. Known as San Trifon Zartan, the celebration is literally the ‘Day of Winemakers’.

Valentine’s Day is known as Zdravko in Slovenia and is linked with celebrations of fertility and the land. An old Slovenian proverb goes: “St Valentine’s brings the keys of roots”, as it is the day work usually begins in the fields.

There is a charming belief that it is also the day when birds propose to each other and wed for the season.

Estonians see Valentine’s Day as a festival of love for everyone. Sobrapaev translates as Friendship Day and as such does not have a romantic bias, instead celebrating love between all.

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The Welsh have long had an alternative to Valentine’s Day. There, St Dwynwen’s Day is on 25th January. St Dwywen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers and it was historically the day when men would give their wives, fiancées and girlfriends intricately carved and symbolic wooden Welsh love spoons.

But the award for the most romantic nation must go to South Korea. As well as celebrating Valentine’s Day where (like Japan) women traditionally honour men, the 14th day of every month is reserved for lovers and each celebration has a different name.

14th January is Candle Day and 14th March is known as White Day, when men reciprocate Valentine’s Day and give gifts to women.

No one is left out as April 14th is Black Day and reserved for single people, who mark it by coming together to eat jajangmyeon or black noodles.

May brings the Day of Roses, June the Day of Kisses and July 14th is Silver Day. August’s Green Day refers to an alcoholic beverage known as soju, a spirit made from rice. It is traditional to drink this followed by a romantic walk.

September sees Music Day, October is Wine Day, November Movie Day and December 14th is the Day of Hugs.

That is a lot of celebrations and holidays for lovers!

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Food & Drink

Restaurant style Japanese miso noodle soup My favourite recipes are those which look great, taste amazing, and require little or no effort to make. This noodle soup meets all those criteria. It’s healthy, full of goodness and will bring a smile to your table during the darker months. The vegetables are fully interchangeable - feel free to use whatever you can get your hands on. The dish also still works without miso paste, even though it does add a lovely richness to the flavours.

Ingredients 1 litre good quality vegetable stock 1 tbsp miso paste 200g fine dried noodles or similar (I often cheat and just chuck in the precooked ones you find in the fresh aisle in supermarkets) 2 filets of salmon, skinned and sliced diagonally into three pieces 2 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped 1 thumb of ginger, peeled and grated Handful sugar snap peas Handful mushrooms finely sliced 1 small leek, finely sliced Vegetable oil Light soy sauce

Serves 2 people

1. Cook the noodles as per the packet instructions then drain and chill them. If you are using pre-cooked noodles, there’s no need to cook them again.

2. Place the noodles in the base of two large round serving bowls.

3. Boil up your vegetable stock and stir through the miso paste.

You want to keep this stock hot and ready to serve.

4. In a hot pan, drizzle in some vegetable oil and quickly fry the vegetables, garlic and ginger. Leave them with a good crunch, you don’t want to overcook them.

5. Add in a few drops of soy sauce, mix the vegetables one last time, and then share the vegetables between the two bowls, placing them on the noodles.

6. Pour a little more oil into the pan and fry off the salmon pieces. Give them a bit of colour but, again, don’t overcook them as they will continue to cook in the serving bowls.

7. Pop the salmon on top of the vegetables and divide up the vegetable stock into both bowls.

8. Leave the bowls sit for a minute, just for the boiling stock to heat through the noodles and serve, accompanied by chilli oil or chilli sauce, for a bit of extra optional kick.

BBC Three Counties Radio presenter and cook, Nick Coffer 8

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Food & Drink

Wines: Choosing a Mix For this quest I searched for a range of wines, with each production having an alcoholic content typical for the type and a bouquet, from delicate to medium level, which entices to the pleasures that follow.

Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc (13% vol), from Chile, is a very popular favourite for many white wine lovers. Crisp and fresh, to the mouth’s delight, I found this to be impressive and perfect to accompany a lot of cuisine, including fish dishes, seafood and salads.

Irresistible Gavi Broglia (13.5% vol), from Italy, brings thoughts - and flavours - of white fruits to mind, for this dry, smooth wine. Again, being crisp and refreshing, a further, popular selection.

For a rosé production I was drawn to Incarnade (11.5% vol). This Pinot Noir wine, by Sainte Marthe, comes from France. Sainte Marthe is to be found on the hillside of an ancient volcano. The terroir, plus much knowledge and expertise, combine to produce this excellent, light and refreshing wine. Great to pair with fish and meat dishes, as well as salads.

Red wines are often chosen and Uruguay produces a splendid Tannat Merlot (12.5% vol). The Finca Traversa production certainly ticks all my boxes, with grapes being grown close to the Atlantic Ocean. Juicy red fruit flavours are in abundance. The superb mouthfeel continues on to a greatly appreciative palate and extended finish. Beef and red meats are regularly paired with this wine.

Spanish red wines are also chosen regularly and Bobal Extreme (14% vol) does not disappoint. The vineyards are at a height of 1100m. This is an ‘extreme’ altitude for grape growing. Dark fruit flavours complement this organic production, wonderfully.

If sparkling wine is a favourite, Italian Pizzolato Organic Prosecco (11% vol) comes through amongst the leaders. This extra dry wine adds something ‘more’ to a dining occasion or event. By itself or to accompany cuisine, this crisp, refreshing production has a very good perlage and memorable finish.

I located these wines amongst excellent ranges at a Co-op store, where I also found knowledgeable advice. If Co-op membership is of interest customers can be rewarded for purchases and products. The Co-op is also committed to supporting Fairtrade. www.coop.co.uk www.infofairtrade.net

As always, Enjoy!

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

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05/12/2016 11:03

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Interiors

By Katherine Sorrell

Go green in style with our guide to creating a beautiful indoor garden in any room.

House plants look amazing, adding colour, pattern, texture, interesting forms and a feeling of vibrancy. They can fill a dull corner, provide soft screening and help dampen noise. The Royal Horticultural Society reports that indoor plants have been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce fatigue and headache.

Intriguingly, patients in hospital rooms containing plants report decreased post-operative pain.

The psychological benefits include the satisfaction of nurturing a small seedling to a healthy, mature plant, as well as the pleasure of watering, misting and pruning, while the RHS says that house plants have been shown to reduce stress levels, improve mood, increase productivity and potentially lengthen attention span. Plants make us feel good.

What plants to choose?

Select plants suited to homes, where it is shadier and temperature fluctuations are greater than in their normal habitat. Good examples include the spider plant, the Boston fern, several varieties of dracaena, Sansevieria trifasciata, rubber plants (ficus elastica), peace lilies (spathiphyllum), aspidistra and ivy. Succulents and cacti tend to be relatively easy to care for and come in a range of shapes and sizes.

For fashion followers, the most-discussed plants on Reddit in 2020 included the pothos, monstera, philodendron, calathea, hoya and peperomia. On the other hand, the world’s most Instagrammed houseplants include the Swiss cheese plant (monstera deliciosa), fiddle leaf fig (ficus lyrata), Chinese money plant, snake plant and money tree.

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Huge plants make a grand statement in a living room, especially combined with bold colours and architectural fittings. Charlotte Chandelier, £380, with 18cm pendant shades in Posh Pink velvet, £35 each, Pooky.

Personalise a home work space with a series of small plants, placed at different heights for variety. Gerry Floor lamp, £161; Drax desk lamp in black, £137: both Pooky.

Where to put your house plants Generally plants need good light (but not bright, direct sunlight) and should be away from heat sources, draughts and cold. Darker rooms like bathrooms need shade-tolerant plants. Provide a stable, waterproof base, and keep harmful plants away from children and pets. Huge statement plants look incredible in hallway, living room or dining room corners, or group several plants together for a similar effect. Place smaller plants on tables or use tall planters, or put a row of small plants on a mantelpiece, shelf or window ledge, or dot them among books and vases in a bookcase. Hang them from the ceiling, stage them in steps, or pop them on wall racks.

Grouping in odd numbers looks best, and a range of widths and heights looks relaxed. Opt for varying shades of leaf colours or try a more regulated appearance, and contrast leaf shapes for natural variety.

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Pets

Show Them You Care This

Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is traditionally the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers, or chocolates with messages of love. But what about receiving one from your pet? Or maybe even sending your pet a Valentine’s Day card, to let them know you care?

The card company Moonpig says it has seen a big increase in the number of cards bought for favourite pets.

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So, apart from exchanging cards, how else can you show your treasured pet you really care for them this Valentine’s Day. 1) Make some healthy treats for your much-loved pet. There are a growing number of recipes online, for a range of skill sets. So, don’t worry if you are not a very confident chef. You could even make them into heart shapes to add a personal touch.

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2) Give their bedding a good clean. Some of it may need a bit of a sort out and spring clean. Perhaps make a small list of anything they may need over the next few months. A new blanket perhaps.

3) Locate all of their toys and give them a really good wash in the bath. Leave them to completely dry before returning them. Some fabric toys may even need mending with a handful of stuffing or just few stitches. You could use a spare box or basket to store them in. They could all get arranged neatly inside, as if they were brand new.

4) Buy them a special present. Treat your special friend to something new and personal; collar, lead, toys, treats, bed, coat.

5) Pamper your pup by taking them to a local dog groomer. More and more dog-friendly spas and/ or grooming parlours are opening each year. So why not book Buster in for a bath, shampoo and grooming session. Just the thing for dogs who love to be pampered, they’ll come away looking and feeling fresh and fabulous. Most groomers offer extra services, like a deep conditioning treatment or nail clipping. I’ve yet to meet a cat who enjoys having a bath, so this could be one to skip for your feline family members!

6) If you do not have your own pet to spoil this Valentine’s Day, why not sponsor a dog or cat through the RSPCA, and spoil them instead.

More details can be found on our website or by contacting our Bedford team.

7) Show how much you love animals by becoming a foster carer for the RSPCA. This is such a rewarding role and one that is. More details can be found on our website or by contacting our Bedford team.

So, whatever you choose to do and whoever you choose to spoil, enjoy your Valentine’s Day.

If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact; 0300 1234 999.

Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.

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

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Gardening

By Pippa Greenwood

Get Planting Although autumn is viewed as the best time for planting, trees, shrubs, climbers or herbaceous plants will have enough time to get established if planted now. Plan a shopping trip to fill garden spaces with colour, shape or perfume.

Start by digging or forking the soil over and removing pernicious weeds or debris. Measure the available spaces so that the chosen plant does not outgrow its new home too quickly, and make a note of how sunny or shaded the spot is.

There should be a good selection of shrubs to choose from right now that will provide springtime colour – perhaps a flowering currant with flower trusses in red or pink, a star magnolia, Magnolia stellate, with white or palest pink star-shaped flowers, or, if you have space, an amelanchier, great value because they have tiny, very pretty white flowers with foliage in fiery shades come autumn. On acidic soils or in a goodsized pot of ericaceous compost, camellias perform well and their large flowers in reds, pinks, yellows and white look great. There is also Exochorda macrantha, ‘The Bride’, with delightful arching stems studded with tiny white flowers; the list goes on and on.

Plant your purchases as soon as possible. Dig a goodsized hole for each, making it several inches wider than the root ball all round, and fork the base and sides of the hole over thoroughly, especially in clay – where you should prepare the soil with a fork, as this causes less compaction of the soil than using a spade.

If the soil is either heavy clay or extremely light and sandy, dig a bigger hole, gradually incorporating more

of the ‘natural’ soil into the compost or planting mix as you near the sides of the hole.

Before planting, remove the pot and firmly tease out the roots – soaking the root ball in a bucket of water for an hour or two helps if they are quite congested and is essential for the plant to get properly established. Prune out any really large, woody roots encircling the root ball to release the remainder of the roots.

The plant should be planted at the same depth that it was in its pot, with just the roots, and no part of the stem, below ground level. Watering in helps settle the soil around the fine roots, even if it is fairly moist.

Finally, stand back and check the stem is upright.

Make a note of the plant’s precise name and details, or remove the label and keep it somewhere safe, so you know how to look after your plant and how big it may grow!

At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa’ system. Or book Pippa for a gardening talk at your gardening club.

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Local News

A lasting tribute to those no longer with us

A new tribute site from Wood Green, The Animals Charity gives pet lovers the opportunity to celebrate the life of a beloved friend, family member or pet by creating a space to come together, share anecdotes and keep the memories of loved ones alive. Giving a gift in someone’s memory is a wonderful way to commemorate their life, whilst also supporting Wood Green’s work to care for thousands of vulnerable pets every year.

Jensen Calleemootoo, from Wood Green’s In-Memory Giving team, said: “Losing someone is never easy and we understand how painful it can be. Although nothing can replace them, we know that many people find a great deal of comfort and purpose by creating a tribute fund in their name, for a cause close to

their heart. By donating or fundraising around key milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries, those loved ones stay with us forever – and help Wood Green be there for even more pets in need.”

For Len, a gift to Wood Green was the perfect way to honour his late wife, Val: “Leaving a lasting tribute to Val means her love for animals lives on through the care Wood Green gives to homeless pets. Supporting a cause which brought her so much joy and happiness gives me comfort. I have something positive to focus on, despite the pain I felt since losing her.”

To find out more about setting up a tribute fund for a loved one, please visit inmemory.woodgreen.org.uk or contact Wood Green’s In-Memory Giving team on 0300 303 9333 option 3.

009011NC0121

Setting up a tribute fund is a wonderful way to commemorate a life whilst making a difference to pets in need.

Wood Green, The Animals Charity, Registered Charity No. 298348

Celebrate the memory of a loved one

Visit www.inmemory.woodgreen. org.uk or call our In-Memory Giving team on 0300 303 9333 option 3 20

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WO PINEE CAOD RE TRE What we do?

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Motoring

Six in-car technologies that changed the game

Some technology that we take for granted today was revolutionary when it was introduced.

Nowadays, drivers have access to a wide variety of technologies that make driving safer, easier and more enjoyable than ever before, and we look at some of the most important of those.

Airbags Airbags made a huge difference, protecting occupants from serious injuries caused by hitting their head on hard cabin trim. Although they were developed in the 1950s, they didn’t come to Europe until 1980, when the Mercedes S-Class offered them as an option. It wasn’t until the late 1990s before airbags were offered as an option at the very least on the majority of cars.

Automatic air conditioning Ever suffered the discomfort of driving in the height of summer or a restricted view from a steamed-up windscreen in a car that doesn’t have air conditioning?

That’s why air con is one of the biggest innovations in motoring, making driving comfortable for millions of people. And automatic air con lets you set a cabin temperature that remains constant, a luxury many take for granted in 2020.

Satellite navigation The advent of in-car satnav systems in the 1990s did away with the need to work out a route before travelling and then using the map on your journey to find your way – which is incredibly distracting.

Still considered something of a luxury, it’s an option most people choose. The peace of mind it provides is usually worth the extra cost.

In-car entertainment Providing entertainment while driving has always been a selling point, with early radios replaced by tape decks, CD players, and in modern cars, smartphone connectivity.

Most modern cars now come with Bluetooth, which means drivers can play music and podcasts through their car speakers by hitting play on their phones.

The latest advancement is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which provide simplified versions of each operating system to be used in the car.

Advanced cruise control For some drivers, cruise control – which sees the car maintain a set speed itself – is a controversial subject. Those against it think it allows drivers to concentrate less, while others say it frees brain space to let them concentrate more on their surroundings.

Either way, cruise-control systems have advanced to the point where modern cars are almost considered autonomous. These systems combine different technologies, such as radar-assisted cruise control and lane-keep assist, to maintain a vehicle’s place in traffic without any driver input.

Car-to-smartphone connectivity As well as integrating infotainment systems with smartphones for entertainment purposes, a more recent innovation has seen manufacturers creating apps that let owners control aspects of their car from their phone.

These are particularly popular in electric vehicles, as you can check charging or prime the battery to a good operating temperature before setting off.

But other features, such as checking if the car is locked, setting a cabin temperature remotely or checking the car’s location, work for all vehicle types.

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ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Easy Sudoku

Hard Sudoku

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

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Sales Service Repair Call Outs Automation of Existing Gates Residential Commercial

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January’s Puzzle Solutions and Winner Last Month’s Crossword Winner Cheryl Subocz - Potton Easy

Hard

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Prize The Villager Prize Crossword

ÂŁ25

Across 1 Hint (4) 3 Contrary (8) 9 Error (7) 10 Frolic (5) 11 Eager (12) 13 Informal (6) 15 Titbit (6) 17 Alphabetical reference books (12) 20 Propose (5) 21 Produces lava (7) 22 Vacations (8) 23 Wagers (4)

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

16th February 2021 Prize Crossword, Villager Publications Ltd 24 Market Square, Potton, Beds SG19 2NP The winner will be drawn at random from the correct completed entries.

Down 1 Business (8) 2 Distressed (5) 4 Lyrical (6) 5 From time to time (12) 6 Suggests (7) 7 Acquire (4) 8 Produced (12) 12 Flowers (8) 14 Talented (7) 16 Carry (6) 18 Picture (5) 19 Weapon (4)

Name:

Address:

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Call now for a free, no obligation quotation

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Books

Books to dip into Sometimes we just can’t face a whole novel or autobiography. With these books, you can dip in and out whenever you have a spare five minutes. By Kate Duggan Dear NHS: 100 Stories to Say Thank You

By Adam Kay

Adam Kay brings us a series of essays and musings from a range of household names, from Malala Yousafzai to Dame Julie Walters and Johnny Vegas. Each tale is about how the NHS has stepped in to help the writer.

There’s a story of a suspected heart attack that turned out to be trapped wind, several about household accidents (often involving kitchen knives) and plenty of sentimental stories to boot.

Plus, all profits go to charity.

Encounters: A Photographic Journey

By Levison Wood

Award-winning reportage photographer Levison Wood has travelled to more than 100 countries over the last ten years.

Encounters brings together 140 of his images, along with text about each one. You’ll meet a young shepherd girl in Ethiopia, resourceful teenagers in the Congo, stranded nomads, fishermen in Yemen and families surviving in war-torn regions.

The Repair Shop: Tales from the Workshop of Dreams

• SINGLE & DOUBLE GLAZING • SEALED UNITS GONE ‘FOGGY’ • MIRRORS • SHELVES • WINDOWS & DOORS

If you love the TV series about expert craftspeople restoring much loved family heirlooms, you won’t want to miss the accompanying book. It goes into more detail about some of the most interesting items shown in the series, from a rusty miner’s helmet to a circus performer’s dress. It’s the book version of a mug of tea and hot buttered crumpet.

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FOR ALL YOUR GLAZING NEEDS:

• LOCKS, WINDOW & DOOR ACCESSORIES

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