Alconbury Jan 2019

VILLAGER The

Issue 82 - January 2019

and Town

Life

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

In this issue Corsica Discover the Alta Rocca

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Inside this issue...

Make the most of the January Sales

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The History of Coco...........................................................4 Corsica - Discover the Alta Rocca......................................8 Dining - South Bank Style..............................................10 Win £100 to spend on ‘Real Deals For You’............ 12 Make the most of the January Sales...............................15 Upping your Style Game in 2019....................................16 Arthur Rank Hospice Charity..........................................21 Fun Quiz.........................................................................21 Spot the Pension Scammers...........................................23

Great Gardening Books..................................................26 R.A.T.S. Rehoming Appeal..............................................29 RSPCA Animal Stories.....................................................30 How to get the best deal on car insurance......................32 Nick Coffer’s Weekend Recipe.........................................34 Puzzle Page....................................................................36 What’s On.......................................................................38 Wordsearch....................................................................41 Prize Crossword................................................ 42 Book Review..................................................................45 Useful Numbers.............................................................47

Spot the Pension Scammers

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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, Solange Hando, Trevor Langley, Sarah Davey, Helen Venables, Ann Haldon, Rachael Leverton, RSPCA, James Baggott, Nick Coffer and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Photography - Jennifer Barrow 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

The History of Coco

By Catherine Rose

Chanel is one of the most iconic names in haute couture and its founder, Coco, was a legend in her own lifetime. Said to be responsible for making the tan fashionable, she is equally famous for her sayings that included “A woman can never be too rich or too thin”. This month we look back at the inventor of the LBD and Chanel No. 5.

Coco Chanel’s story is a classic rags-to-riches tale. Born in 1883 at a charity hospital to unmarried parents Eugénie Devolle (Jeanne) and peddlar Albert Chanel, Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel rose above her humble start to become

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one of the most influential people of the 20th century – not only for her fashion design, dressmaking and millinery skills but also for the way in which she revolutionised how women dressed.

Chanel grew up with two brothers and three sisters in a one-room lodging house until her mother died of TB when she was 12. She was then sent to an orphanage in Aubazine. It was here that she learned to sew.

Her early aspirations were to be a performer, however, and after she left the orphanage, Gabrielle got a job singing between acts at

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La Rotonde, a popular cabaret venue. It was here she earned the nickname Coco. Her voice, however, was not good enough to propel her onto the main stage.

At the age of 23, she met the rich textile heir Etienne Balsan at La Rotonde and became his mistress, moving into his chateau near Compiègne. Balsan showed her a life of luxury and she started designing hats. Two years later she attracted the attention of a friend of Balsan’s, an Englishman called Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel.

After she became a licensed milliner in 1910, it was Capel who installed her in Paris and set her up with her first shop – Chanel Modes.

She quickly earned the patronage of actress Gabrielle Dorziat and her hats became sought after.

In 1913, Capel helped finance her second shop – a clothing boutique in Deauville which sold casual outfits for leisure and sport in fabrics like jersey and tricot, which had previously only ever been used to make men’s underwear. She conceived her popular sailor blouse here and was helped by her sister Antoinette and her Aunt Adrienne, who would model and promote her designs.

In 1915, with World War One underway, Coco opened another shop, this time in Biarritz where many wealthy Spaniards had been exiled. The shop was so successful that Coco was able to pay back all the money that Capel had given her.

Capel’s elegance and taste in clothing influenced Coco greatly and although she loved him, he went on to marry an English aristocrat, Lady Diana Wyndham, in 1918. It was a terrible blow to Coco when he was killed in a car crash a year later and she never truly recovered from it.

By now a qualified couturière, she set up her own fashion house in the prestigious Rue Cambon in Paris, selling hats, clothing and her Chanel No. 5 perfume. Women adored her boyish look and modern easy-to-wear style. Her eponymous little black dress was nicknamed Le Garçonne (the boy) and was revolutionary for using a colour previously only worn for mourning. Her famous straight-lined Chanel suit, which was released in 1925, bore many hallmarks of men’s tailoring and didn’t

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require a corset. She would say: “Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”

The business grew and in 1920 Coco was helping to both finance and design dance costumes for the famous Ballet Russes, inviting the exiled Russian composer Igor Stravinksy and his family to share her home Bel Respiro.

Theophile Bader, the founder of Galleries Lafayette, was keen to sell Chanel No. 5 with its signature square bottle (said to have been modelled on Capel’s aftershave), and persuaded Coco to part with all but a 10% share in ‘Parfums Chanel’ that he set up with the Wertheimer brothers, owners of the perfume and jewellery firm Bourjois. Coco was to regret her decision for the next twenty years and after the war, took the men to court and had the terms re-negotiated with back payments that made her a millionaire.

Known for her cutting wit, Chanel moved in the most fashionable circles in Paris and was friends and lovers with the talented, famous and elite, including Pablo Picasso and the Prince of Wales. The Duke of Westminster, a long-time lover, gave her the land on which she built her villa La Pausa and even proposed to her, but she never married, saying: “I never wanted to weigh more heavily on a man than a bird”.

During the 1930s, popularity with her clothes waned and she decided to shut her Maison de Chanel at the start of the war – 4,000 people lost their jobs. Her anti-Semitic views and subsequent affair with a German soldier caused scandal and following the war, Coco went into hiding in Switzerland.

In the 1950s, Coco Chanel re-emerged on the fashion scene to become as popular as she ever was. She was 70. Marilyn Monroe famously said that Chanel No. 5 was the only thing she wore in bed.

Coco spent her last 30 years in the Paris Ritz and died there in January 1971. Designer Karl Lagerfield took over her mantle in 1983 and still works out of her original premises.

Today her famous Chanel brand, with the interlocking C logo she designed, is owned by the Wertheimer family and generates millions.

As Coco once said: “Fashion fades but style remains.”

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Travel

Corsica

With 40% of the land protected by a Regional Nature Park, Corsica is often called the ‘Isle of Beauty’, a worthy epithet as beyond the fabulous coastline, the hinterland has its own spectacular scenery. Down in the south, just inland from the popular resorts, the Alta Rocca is one of these lovely mountain regions laced in walking trails with only a couple of minor roads winding their way across the land. Up there time seems to stand still.

Forests rich in oak and chestnut trees, lofty Laricio pines, pastures, tumbling streams and dramatic rocks, this is a paradise for all nature lovers. Red kites soar in the thermals and there are peregrine falcons, golden eagles and bearded vultures with a mighty wingspan. Nuthatches splash colour in the trees, lizards and salamanders scamper along the tracks, wild cats and boars forage here and there. Meanwhile deer graze in the shade but the mouflons with long horns like to perch on the most inaccessible rocks, basking in the bright Mediterranean sun. Flowers and plants vary with the altitude but favourites include myrtle and thyme, the delicate blue ancoli peeping out of rocky crags and the wild sweet-scented immortelle.

The Alta Rocca starts in Ospedale, the first mountain village at 900 metres, then stretches north towards the Bavella pass where at 1,218 metres one enjoys superb views of the pink rocky ‘needles’ by the same name. This is on the old transhumance route and the nearby trails invite

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By Solange Hando

Discover the Alta Rocca you to explore further. It’s an awesome spot protected by the statue of Our Lady of the Snows, installed with great difficulty by local monks.

It may feel like the roof of the world but besides its natural wonders, the Alta Rocca is a land of hilltop villages where traditions survive on the ‘heritage trail’. On the western edge, Sainte Lucie de Tallano is a lively little place, all granite houses and cobbled lanes with convent and church, old bread ovens, oil mill and nearby thermal springs in their natural settings. Then there’s Levie and its Alta Rocca museum and the ‘coutellerie’ where traditional Corsican knives are still made in various shapes and sizes. Yet this pretty village has other claims to fame for if you feel like a walk, a trail can lead you to the archaeological site of Cucuruzzu dating back to the Bronze Age. It’s quiet and atmospheric, dotted with remnants of walls, tower and storing areas. According to historians however, the Alta Rocca has 9,000 years of history, making it one of the oldest inhabited districts in Corsica.

At just over 300 metres, the village of Sartène can vouch for that, with a museum of prehistory, nearby dolmens and menhirs and gateway to the highlands, once known as the Land of the Lords.

Enjoy the local wine then, as you wander through stepped alleyways and narrow lanes framed by granite hills, you may well agree that as the locals say, Sartène is ‘the most Corsican of all Corsican villages’.

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Food and Drink

Dining South Bank Style

London’s South Bank has a lot to offer all ages. World-class attractions provide interest and fascination for the whole family. The London Eye, Royal Festival Hall, London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium and much, much more are all extremely popular. Restaurants on the South Bank offer everything from a light snack, through brasserie-style grills, to full, top restaurant experiences.

The London Marriott Hotel County Hall boasts Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, to both residents and non-residents, this restaurant has fine views of the River Thames, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye and surrounding area. The Library serves awardwinning Afternoon Teas, plus Dinners. An exceptional range of wines/drinks and handcrafted cocktails, including a magnificent selection of over 100 gins and more than 50 whiskies are available.

Starters, in Gillray’s restaurant, can include Cornish Oysters, champagne dressing, spring onion, chilli and Pan-Fried Scallops, black pudding purée, apple salad, hazelnut dressing. Beetroot-Cured Salmon and Hand-Chopped Steak Tartare, all with accompaniments, are further very popular options. Main courses have a splendid range of 35 Day Dry-Aged Aberdeen Angus hand-selected Steaks (choose your preferred design and style of steak knife, from the boxed selections that are offered), all served with bone marrow and confit vine cherry tomatoes. Whether ‘bone-in’ or ‘bone-out’ is favoured, sizes include 150g Fillet, through 500g Prime Rib, to Gillray’s Bulls Head 1kg Bone-In Rib-Eye and their outstanding ‘Meat Feast’ (Compliments to Chef ). Other dishes include Spatchcock Chicken, Fish and more, which are further often-selected choices.

The very talented brigade of chefs and kitchen personnel ensure all cuisine is cooked and presented, perfectly. The tender succulent steaks have regular ‘devotees’. Sunday roast is always popular, too. The complementing flavours of the dishes of cuisine are superb. Desserts include Chocolate & Hazelnut Bar and Adult Ice Cream with gin, brandy and rum – another popular selection.

All dietary requirements can be catered for, plus parties, events and occasions accommodated easily. Many thanks to Yara and Alexandra for impeccable service, throughout.

Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB Tel: 44(0) 20 7902 8000 Email: enquiry@gillrays.com www.gillrays.com www.marriottcountyhall.com

As always, Enjoy!

ey Trevor Langl

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When you buy tools from your nearest Real Deals for You Approved Stockist you can be assured that you’re not only supporting Henlow Building Supplies, a local independent business, but you’re also buying big name products at the fairest prices. With incredible offers and brand new products, Real Deals for You offer you unbeatable shopping savings.

Competition

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Open 6 days a week furniture, china, glass, silver & paintings

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Time of Year

By Sarah Davey

Make the most of the January Sales We all love a bargain, and sales save us so much money, right? Yes...but you need to shop smart to take proper advantage of the discounts, and to avoid buying things you don’t need.

So here is our one-stop shopping guide to the January Sales.

Do your research - Many retailers market their sales beforehand and some even let you fill your shopping cart before sales officially open. This means you can think and plan, and make sure that your purchases are relevant to your needs.

Goodbye post-sales regrets!

Shop your wardrobe first - Take stock of what you already own. This is important when you’re sales shopping. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of snapping up a great deal only to find that you already own three almost identical items to the bargain you just bought. If you go sales shopping armed with the knowledge that you DON’T need brown boots, or another leather jacket, you are more likely to make wise buying choices. Also, if you already know what you do own you can think about what each item you purchase will co-ordinate with, and just like that, you’re adding cool-headed calm to the salesshopping mix!

Don’t forget postage costs - If you’re shopping online, extra costs like postage, customs and shipping aren’t usually included in discounts.

Factor this in and keep checking your cart before you hit the ‘Pay’ button.

Force yourself to try things on - If it’s worth

queueing for the changing room, and you still love it when it’s on, it’s probably a good find! If you can’t be bothered to queue then put it back, you don’t love it that much.

Set a budget - If you don’t start with a limit you’re almost guaranteed to blow your budget. Because... new clothes! Also treat your budget as a limit not a target!

Beware of returns policies - Most retailers won’t let you return sale items just because you don’t like them once you get them home but...

Know your rights - If a sale item is faulty then your rights as a consumer are exactly the same as if the item was full price.

Plan your route - Planning will keep you focused and avoid you being lured into shops you’re better off avoiding.

Take a friend - Make sure they are the rational, honest type of friend who will tell you if something doesn’t suit you or doesn’t fit you. to keep you from blowing your budget on things you shouldn’t.

Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of - you don’t want to have to spend half an hour in the changing room taking off boots with fiddly catches and tops with twenty buttons multiple times. ‘Nuff said!

Eat something first - Food is cheaper and healthier at home. Plus, it’s scientific fact that clothes shopping on an empty stomach causes us to make impulse buys to satisfy hunger cravings!

The human brain is quirky like that.

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House of Colour

Upping Your Style Game in 2019

A cold and gloomy January is the perfect time to gain style kudos by balancing warmth and comfort with sumptuous fabrics to create an altogether chic look.

Even wearing the right winter wrap can mean you ooze layered style, especially if it is in one of your wow colours; whilst wearing the right or wrong type of boots for your body shape could make or break your outfit. Here’s how to up your style game in the colder months of 2019.

1. The new year is often a time for self-reinvention. Do you know what you like and like what you know?

Why not dare to try something a little different?

Quite often we rule out wearing a different colour or style because we find its easy and safe to wear the same type of things. Find your fashion groove by mixing different neutrals and wow colours from your colour palette or choose an on-trend pattern you haven’t tried before.

2. Now is the time to declutter. Evaluate whether you love each item of clothing in your wardrobe or whether its just ok. You don’t need a jam-packed wardrobe to look good, but you should love everything in it. Keep your loved clothes and give away anything that doesn’t suit you, giving you space to start afresh and organise your style. It also makes getting dressed in the morning a lot easier.

Cleared wardrobe, clear mind.

3. On the back of the growing drive towards more ecological dressing, this new year choose carefully from shops you know support your ethics and only buy the items you love and will be able to wear again and again. Think carefully but don’t be afraid to spend if it is an investment and a much-needed piece. Quality speaks!

4. The new year is often a time for us to focus on giving our health a boost. Have you considered that what you wear when you exercise can really affect how you feel about taking part? If you look and feel good in your leggings, swimsuit or running shorts, then you are more likely to drag yourself out of bed to the gym. Invest in some quality sports gear to give yourself the oomph you might need to get out of bed.

5. Try some new accessories. We all have our daily favourites but try wearing a necklace or earrings

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that makes a statement that’s all about you. You will be amazed how many compliments you get when you wear jewellery that’s perfect for your style personality and colour palette.

6. Don’t turn yourself into a walking rainbow but try mixing up to three colours in your colour palette including the neutrals that suit your season.

Everyone gets a form of white in their season, Autumn colour palettes suit rich, warm earthy colours such as oyster, whilst Springs suit a warm beige or cream. Winters look gorgeous in a cool bright white and stone. Summers suit cool, subtle neutrals such as soft white and pink beige. Add a pop of colour to your neutrals with a vibrant bag, hat/ scarf and gloves set, or a pair of red boots as seen in all the shops this winter.

7. Love your body and shape. Cinch in your waist or elongate your mid-section, draw attention to your best parts and wear the right length hemline, trouser length and sleeves. Style is the detail.

8. If you are planning to hit the sales just make sure that you choose items not because they are a great bargain but because they are perfect for you. A great rule of thumb is never to buy something you wouldn’t be happy to pay full price for. It is all about quality over quantity.

9. Winter is an amazing time to wear gorgeous prints whether it’s this season’s hot checks, gorgeous floral or animal prints. Winter is also a great time to try different materials that suit your body type whether that be leather, tweed, velvet or silk just to name a few. Try pairing a chunky knit sweater with a leather skirt for a smart casual look if you love a bit of drama. Alternatively, a neutral colour wool dress worn under a tweed jacket will create a sophisticated yet chic vibe for anyone who loves a classic look.

10. Not everyone suits high necks but if they look good on you then pair a high neck with long boots to create an elongated silhouette or opt for a high neck worn underneath a circle neck jumper or tunic dress for a layered and more casual look.

By Helen Venables, MD at House of Colour www.houseofcolour.co.uk

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Sharing time and talents

I would like to welcome you all to ‘Arthur’s shed’ it is a studio room located in the landscaped gardens at the hospice; which provides an alternative space for all to enjoy. Our vision is for the wider community and people connected to the hospice to come together in a safe, warm and friendly venue.

Volunteers offer their time and talents to deliver a programme of wide-ranging activities from woodwork to card making, to less structured informal sessions where attendees can learn from bespoke sessions on basic budgeting skills, cookery for pleasure, or 1-1 sessions to understand how to e-mail, or shop on-line.

Feedback from shed users "Informal/relaxed environment. Good guidance and able to do your own thing."

"I’m not crafty at all and enjoyed my first experience with clay."

We have a dedicated webpage and to view the activities list you can book on to, visit arhc.org.uk/arthurs-shed or call 01223 675777.

Fun Quiz - Review of the Year 1. When he was born in April, what position did Prince Louis of Cambridge take in the line of succession to the British throne?

2. Ingvar Kamprad, who died in January at the age of 91, is best remembered for founding which business in 1943?

3. Which country hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics?

4. After over two decades on the BBC, what was broadcast on ITV for the first time in April as part of an advert break during an episode of Britain’s Got Talent?

5. In January, the results of Donald Trump’s first medical since becoming US President revealed that he was taking a drug called finasteride to try to prevent what?

6. In June, which country officially lifted a ban meaning that there were no longer any countries in the world where women were forbidden to drive motor vehicles?

7. Which song did Theresa May briefly dance to as she stepped onto stage for her keynote speech at the 2018 Conservative party conference?

8. Following their wedding in May, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle became the Duke and Duchess of where?

9. In June, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, became only the second ever elected head of government to do what while in office?

10. In July, which song dropped from number one to number 97 to set a record for the fastest ever fall from the top of the UK singles charts in a single week?

1. Fifth 2. Ikea 3. South Korea 4. The National Lottery results 5. Hair loss 6. Saudi Arabia 7. Dancing Queen 8. Sussex 9. Give birth 10. Three Lions

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

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

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

www.oakleighresidentailhome.co.uk ESTABLISHED AND TRUSTED SINCE 1988 Oakleigh Residential half page.indd 1

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05/12/2016 11:03

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Spot the Pension Scammers

Since new regulations were introduced in 2015 allowing greater pension freedoms, criminals have been targeting retirees, and those approaching retirement, in an attempt to fraudulently exploit the system.

Figures published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) show that victims of pension scams lost £91,000 each on average in 2017, with more than 30% of pension holders aged 45-65 being unaware of how to check that they’re dealing with a legitimate pension adviser.¹ So how do you know if you’re being targeted by pension scammers?

Unexpected contact Unsolicited contact by someone offering advice on your pension is likely to be a scam. They may claim to be backed by the government, but no legitimate pension-related organisation or adviser would cold-call you. This type of contact could also be made by email, text, post or in person.

Free pension review A common tactic used by scammers, and one that gives them access to a considerable amount of personal and financial information, is offering a free pension review. If you’re under 55 they may try to persuade you to take your pension early; otherwise

it could be with a view to transferring your pension into a fraudulent or unregulated scheme.

Releasing pension monies early If you’re under the age of 55, pension scammers may tell you it’s possible to access your pension early. This isn’t the case unless you meet certain, very limited, criteria regarding your health.

Withdrawing your pension below the age of 55 will trigger a tax liability of 55% of the amount withdrawn. You may also lose your pension entirely if the proposed new scheme/investment plan is fraudulent or unregulated, and still face this tax charge.

Higher/guaranteed returns One of the fundamental aspects of investing is that there are no firm guarantees. Scammers may tell you guaranteed returns at a certain percentage are available, or perhaps that you’ll receive higher returns from the investment product they’re offering, but this is not the case. They may also say their investment strategy is low risk, but a low-risk strategy is not associated with high returns.

Time-limited offers Scammers sometimes pressurise their victims into signing quickly, saying it’s a time-limited offer.

They may even arrange for a courier to deliver their documents and then wait until you sign them. This gives you little time to go through the documents properly, and to carefully consider what you’re doing.

Tax loopholes Pension fraudsters might say they know of tax loopholes, or ways in which you could make extra savings on tax. There are no tax loopholes with legitimate pension arrangements.

Withholding contact details If they don’t want you to call them back, have limited contact information available, only a mobile phone number or a PO Box address, for example, you should cease communications with them straight away.

Hopefully, being aware of the common tactics used by pension scammers, and when they’re likely to be used, will offer some protection, and help you avoid becoming one of the unfortunate and startling statistics. ¹www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/regulatorswarn-public-pension-scammer-tactics-victimsreport-losing-average-91000-2017

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JANUAR

Up to 35

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Sale runs from 28t to 31st Jan

Stylish bath kitchens to current needs

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Christmas Opening Hours: 28th and 29th December from

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P&R Interiors Jan 19.indd 1

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m 10am to 4pm. Normal trading resumes on 2nd January P & R Interiors, 9 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ Tel: 01234 352414 Email: sales@pandrinteriors.store Web: www.pandrinteriors.co.uk Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm Saturdays 10.00am to 4.00pm To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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07/12/2018 09:34:5

Garden View

By Rachael Leverton

Great Gardening Books

If you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas now is the perfect time to curl up in front of the fire with a gardening book you’ve brought for yourself. We have a few to recommend.

RHS Great British Village Show by Matthew Biggs and Thane Prince - The village show is a quintessential British tradition, and for many gardeners it represents the pinnacle of their sowing and growing year. This charming and informative book takes you behind the scenes of this very British institution, offering insights into the worlds of judges and contestants. It’s beautifully illustrated with photographs, and offers wonderful gems of insider information, including how to stage your produce, and what the judges are really looking for. There are even recipes for prize-worthy jams and preserves. If you’ve never attended a village show this book will make you yearn for a summer of tents and teas; you might even be tempted to become a competitor.

One Magic Square by Lolo Hubein – Following on from the previous book, have you ever wanted to have a go at growing your own vegetables and fruit but feel completely clueless? We’re always hearing that the best and cheapest food is the food you grow in your own garden, but it all seems rather complicated to a total novice. In One Magic Square, Lolo Hubein shows how you can start your own productive food garden in ten minutes a day on a single square metre. She provides simple plot designs starting with salads, and gradually expanding to include beans, tomatoes, corn, roots and much more. She also stresses the benefits of companion planting and provides ideas. The bite-sized designs (pun totally intended!) allow you to extend by one square metre each season, or to pick your favourites. The magic of square-metre gardening is in allowing your project to grow in a manageable way, from simple to more complex. There are even designs catering for different tastes and specific diets.

RSPB Gardening for Wildlife by Adrian Thomas - If you long to have butterflies and bees in your flowerbeds, birds singing in your trees, and hedgehogs bustling about under your bushes then look no further than this wonderful guide to wildlife gardening Adrian Thomas explains the intricacies of attracting wildlife to your garden whether you have a small plot or more than an acre. His style is accessible, but rich in detail. He draws on the latest wildlife research to explain the ecological principles, and to dispel some of the myths which have traditionally prevented gardeners from pursuing a wildlife-friendly approach. There are practical projects to help you create entire habitats, and long lists of suitable plants and trees, and it’s packed to brim with helpful photographs. If you love wildlife and want to encourage more to visit your garden, this inspirational book will help you sow the seeds and reap the rewards.

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Borderstyle & Landscaping We offer all aspects of soft or hard landscaping Driveways, Patios, Fencing Garden Design and Renovation Border and Garden Clearance Family Run Business Ten year warranty contract given.

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Pets

Rehoming Appeal Cookie & Crumble

Cookie and Crumble are two indoor Abyssinian female Guinea Pigs. They are just over a year old and came from a home where they had not been handled and it has taken time to get them used to being picked up and stroked.

They are improving and looking for an experienced home to bring them on.

They love being fed treats, pieces of carrot etc and do not bite, they just need someone who can be patient with them.

If you could offer Cookie and Crumble a home, please call Hazel on 01234 357788.

Any potential home will be vetted by one of our volunteers.

Alternatively, please e-mail Philippa at info.rats@gmail.com who will be pleased to forward your enquiry on to the team View other small mammals, dogs and cats currently in our care for re-homing on our website: www.rats-animalrescue.co.uk or facebook: www.facebook.com/ratscharity You can also see photographs and details of the animals in our care in our charity shop in Hitchin Street, Biggleswade SG18 8AX. Open Monday to Saturday from 10.00 am until 4.00 pm.

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29

Pets

Animal Stories Our small RSPCA Branch covers a large area including the whole of North Bedfordshire, taking care of cats, kittens and small animals in need before finding them happy, forever homes. A large majority of these animals come into our care via National RSPCA Inspectors, sadly not all coming from very nice situations. However this isn’t always the case. Once in a while due to various reasons and circumstances a truly beloved pet can simply no longer be kept. It can be a heartbreaking decision, but one made in the best interest of the animals.

In this instance it was these two, Tarquin and Millie-Mollie. The pair had lived together with a lovely lady since they were kittens. Unfortunately their owner was moving into sheltered housing where she was unable to take them with her. She made the devastating decision to sign the cats into our care, to find them new homes.

Tarquin, 6 years old and Millie-Mollie, 8 years were much loved, well fed and truly pampered pets.

Although their previous owner has said they didn’t particularly get on, more tolerating each other’s company than actual companions but since coming arriving at our cattery they seem to be glad to have each other close by. We would love them to go to a new home together, somewhere quiet with plenty of company during the day.

Handsome boy Tarquin has a beautifully marked

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ginger coat. His little bent over ear adds to his charm and good looks and suits his cheeky chappy personality. Millie-Mollie is your typically pretty girl next door tuxedo cat who is definitely the more timid of the two. She is very sweet, but also very shy. They both like their food and come running when ‘dinner time’ is announced.

Although a sad start to the story, we are hoping to give this lovely duo a happy ending, where they can become someone else’s pride and joy. If you would like to give Millie-Mollie and Tarquin a loving home, or would like to find out more about them, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone on 01234 266965 or via email at adopt@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk.

We have lots of older cats in our care needing homes which are sadly notoriously more difficult to rehomed compared to kittens, but are not without their benefits! Older cats already have their personalities developed, so you can find the perfect fit for your family. They are also usually well trained, easy to fit into routines and are more content, happy to relax in your company rather than getting into mischief. If you would like to find out about the other cats in our care needing homes, please feel free to contact us or visit our website www.rspca.org.uk/local/bedfordshirenorth-branch

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31

Motoring

By James Baggott

How to get the best deal on your car insurance

Pay annually – if you can afford to The total annual insurance price when paying monthly is often higher than paying one lump sum, so you’ll save in the long run if you can afford to do this – but don’t take out bank loans or use a credit card, as this will cost more than a monthly direct debit.

Take a Pass Plus course Pass Plus courses are great for any motorist – new or old – and insurers recognise the course benefits and offer discounts for those who have taken them. You’re a safer and more experienced driver in their eyes, thus less of a risk.

Don’t be afraid to shop around As convenient as it may be to pick the cheapest insurance deal from a price comparison site, it won’t save much money.

Use that as a starting point, and then pick up the phone. Tell one insurer of another’s prices and see if they’ll offer a better deal – and if they do, go back to the first and let them know. You could knock hundreds of pounds off your premium with a few calls.

Nobody likes to pay more than they have to with car insurance. We take a look at how you can save money on your premiums.

Increase your excess Keeping your excess low to minimise the upfront cost can result in much higher premiums, so experiment with different excesses when shopping around. Your policy price could tumble by simply adding £50 more to your excess, but make sure you can afford to pay it in the event of a claim.

Consider your annual mileage The more miles you tell your insurer you’re doing, the more of a risk you are, hence the price is higher. So if you’re covering a few thousand miles less each year than your insurance allows, cut them out of your policy.

Keep the number of named drivers down Adding multiple users to a policy will increase costs, so drop anyone who uses the car very infrequently and use a temporary cover service when needed instead.

Add an alarm system Although most new cars have excellent security equipment, some older models lack decent anti-theft protection.

Investing in an aftermarket alarm system with an immobiliser will result in long-term savings by way of cheaper insurance premiums – especially if you fit a Thatchamapproved system.

Opt for a black box policy For younger drivers in particular, a black box policy can drastically reduce insurance costs. Insurers fit a data recorder to your car and monitor your driving habits, mileage covered and where you’ve been. As they can track exactly how you’re driving, your initial cost is reduced and good road habits can lead to renewal discounts.

Are the extras necessary?

Options like breakdown and courtesy car cover sound worthwhile, but can often be found cheaper elsewhere, while extras like cover while driving abroad may be unnecessary.

Garage your car Securely parking your car in a garage makes it less likely to be stolen and it won’t get damaged while parked, meaning cheaper premiums. The same applies if you can park in a secure area at work.

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Three Counties Radio

Chocolate Custard, Chocolate Crumble, Salted Caramel Sauce Having made this dish myself, you have my word that it’s wonderful. It should come with a health warning though, as the dusty chocolate crumble is utterly addictive. I found myself eating it off the spoon, and that was before I’d made the set custard! This dish is the creation of chef Steve Barringer, a former Masterchef The Professionals runner up. He’s just taken the leap and opened his own relaxed fine dining restaurant, Eileen’s, in the beautiful market town of Ampthill. This dessert enables you to serve food at home which looks like fine dining, but with a method which is very much open to all levels of cooking confidence.

Set custard 375ml double cream 60ml egg yolk 113g sugar 190g milk chocolate 1.5 leaves gelatine (soaked in water) Caramel Sauce 200g sugar 200ml double cream Chocolate crumble 100g sugar 125g ground almonds 75g plain flour 50g cocoa powder 3g salt 65g melted butter Whole hazelnuts, coarsely chopped to serve Chocolate Custard Whisk the egg yolk and sugar, bring the cream to the boil. Pour this on to the egg and sugar mix, place it all back into the pan and cook on a low heat until the mixture coats the back of a spoon.

Whisk in the soaked gelatine.

Pop the chocolate into a bowl, pour the mixture on to the chocolate and mix until the chocolate has melted.

Place into container and leave to set for around 2 hours, or until set. You can also just pour it into individual ramekins.

Caramel sauce Place the sugar into cold plan and put on the heat.

Cook it until it has reached a light caramel stage, add the cream and then whisk until the sugar has disappeared. Add salt and place into container to cool.

Chocolate crumble Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, melt the butter, add it to the dry ingredients, stir with a wooden spoon and then place it on a tray.

Bake at 180C/ Gas Mark 4 for around 10 minutes, stirring a few times. It’ll come out dusty and powdery.

Pipe the custard into your serving bowls, top with the caramel and finish with the crumble and hazelnuts.

Hear wonderful recipes on Nick Coffer’s Weekend Kitchen every Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties radio at 11am. You can also join Nick every weekday afternoon at midday for brilliant local guests with great stories to tell and all the music you want for your early afternoon.

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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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n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

What’s on entries to whatson@villagermag.com

2 January Holiday Bushcraft 8.30am-4pm Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge, CB22 3AE Designed for children ages 5-12 and run by experienced, qualified teachers from the outdoor learning experience group, Wild Thyme & Embers.

All basic bushcraft techniques suitable for this age range will be taught. Booking essential.

Web: www.wildthymeandembers.co.uk 2 January Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club Coffee Morning & Raffle 10am-12 noon Godmanchester Town Hall Monthly coffee morning and raffle. Annual membership fee is £10.

Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209 2 January Black Cat WI 7.30pm Wyboston Village Hall The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month. Tel: Susie Woodman 01234 376098 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 January Kimbolton Bridge Club 9.30am-12 noon Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Meets every Wednesday morning to play friendly, social bridge. No partner needed. Just come along or call Vanessa. Tel: Vanessa 01480 453929 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 January Healthy Walking 10am or 10.30am-11am Wandlebury Country Park, Cambridge Free event. CambridgePPF event. Keep fit and join our healthy walkers every Thursday. Meet at the Stable Rooms at 10am for a longer walk or 10.30am for a shorter stroll. Walks end around 11am with tea and coffee in the Stable Rooms. All welcome, suitable for all abilities. Free of charge and no need to book. Donations towards the upkeep of the park are always welcome.

4 January St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Junior School St Neots & District in Old Photos Part 2 by Rodney Todman. Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk

5 January Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Simon White talks about the Highlights of Chelsea and Hampton Court. Simon has been Sales/Garden Centre Manager at Peter Beales Roses for over 36 years. Web: www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 5, 12, 19 & 26 January Huntingdon Music School 8.30am-1pm Hinchingbrooke School The music school operates lessons and ensemble groups on Saturday mornings during term-time.

They also offer music lessons in Huntingdon area schools. Tel: 01480 584867 or 07719 835472 Email: enquiries@huntsmusicschool.org.uk Web: www.huntsmusicschool.org.uk

6, 13, 20 & 27 January Kingfisher Church 10.30am Kingfisher Church, Little Paxton Primary School Every Sunday. All welcome. Services include children’s groups and a crèche. Refreshments served.

Tel: 01480 476811 Web: www.kingfisherchurch.co.uk 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 & 30 January St Neots Badminton Club 8-10pm One Leisure, St Neots Play badminton to a good standard and interested in joining a club? St Neots badminton club play at One Leisure Mondays and Wednesdays.

Email: Committee@stneotsbadminton.org Web: www.stneotsbadminton.org 7, 14, 21 & 28 January West Hunts Friendship Club 9.30am-3pm Great Staughton Village Hall Meets every Monday except Bank Holidays. We are looking for new members who are retired to join our happy team. Members can participate in a range of activities as well as enjoying a hot meal at lunch time. Transport can be arranged for those who live within a six miles radius of Great Staughton.

Tel: Annabelle Blackham 07527741495

7, 14, 21 & 28 January Godmanchester Senior Citizens Club 1.30pm Afternoon Bingo 4, 11, 18 & 25 January 6.30pm Whist Drive Friday Night Lights 7.30-8.30pm Godmanchester Town Hall Longsands Academy, Longsands Road, St Neots £1 for Whist drive inc. tea & biscuits St Neots Hockey Club. Friday Night Lights aims to The club has a lively atmosphere and a wide range provide the local community of St Neots with the of activities. Members also meet on a Saturday opportunity to experience hockey in a casual, relaxed morning for games, chat, tea and biscuits for 50p. and family orientated environment.

Non-members are welcome to visit on Saturday Tel: Chris (Club Development Officer) 07792 044878 mornings. Tel: Geoff 01480 434697 or 07515 881209 Email: cjbryden08@hotmail.co.uk 7, 14, 21 & 28 January 5 January Comrades Chess Club Simply Saturday 12.30-2.30pm 7.30pm Comrades Club, Godmanchester St James Church, Little Paxton Keep your mind active and play chess. Over 18s only For adults of all ages with lunch and various as it’s a licensed premises. Seeking new members activities available. Tel: Leisa Hunt 01480 471748 novice or experienced. Ozzie: 01480 414623 Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com Email: ozzie.day5@gmail.com

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7, 14, 21 & 28 January Oakington Singers 7.45-9.30pm Oakington Parish Church Oakington Singers invite new Tenors and Basses to join them on Mondays. Their accompanied and unaccompanied repertoire includes Rutter Anthems, Queen, Folk Songs, Spirituals, international songs and much more! They are a friendly and experienced group and the choir is free!

Email: paul.tann@btinternet.com 7, 14, 21 & 28 January Scottish Country Dancing 8-10pm Queen Elizabeth School, Godmanchester Tel: Mrs Pat Crowe 01480 453774 Email: pat@patcrowe.plus.com 8, 15, 22 & 29 January Roxton Bridge Circle 7.15-10pm Roxton Parish Hall Small friendly group playing Bridge every Tuesday evening. Tel: Mary 01480 212552 Email: mary@jackpike.co.uk 9 January Cambridgeshire Rural M.E. Tea & Chat Second Wednesday of every month. Monthly meetup for adults with M.E. and partners/friends. All details and latest meet-up information available on website. Web: www.crmetea.org 9 January Wildlife Trust 7.30-9pm Brampton Memorial Centre, Thrapston Road, Brampton Entry £2.50, accompanied children free Speaker will be Jim Stevenson, who is known locally as the Senior Ranger for Huntingdonshire District Council, based mainly at Paxton Pits. Jim’s background is in education and nature conservation with various bodies such as the RSPB, the Wildfowl Trust and Birdlife International. Anyone who is interested is most welcome to attend. Tel: Tim Fryer 01480 457795 9, 16, 23 & 30 January St Neots Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm Eynesbury Junior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury New members are very welcome to join and there are no auditions to frighten you but an ability to read a little music is helpful! There is an annual subscription once you decide to join the Society. New members are welcome in all voices. Please check dates over the festive season. Tel: 01480 212298 Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk 12 January Hemingford Village Market 9am-1pm Parish Centre, Hemingford Grey Second Saturday of the month. An opportunity to buy food, crafts, plants and flowers from small local businesses. Hemingford Grey Parish Council hold a surgery at the market should you wish to meet councillors to discuss local issues. Refreshments available all day in the Hemingford Garden Room.

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n O s ’ t Wha In January

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

13 & 27 January Comberton Ramblers 10.15am 13 Jan - Abington Piggots, 6 Miles.

27 Jan - Therfield, 5.5 Miles.

Walks are 5-7 miles, usually ending near a public house. New walkers are welcome to join us with up to 2 free walks. Tel: Stella 01954 210049 Email: stella.ramblers@hotmail.com Web: www.combertonramblers.org.uk

14 January 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 14 & 28 January Nature Tots 10am-11.30am Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £3 age 2 years+. A fun outdoor parent and toddler group. Each session has a nature theme and will include a messy craft activity, time to explore the beautiful outdoors, story and song-time. Adults may bring up to two paying children. Accompanying siblings below the age of 2 years may attend at no cost. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 15 January Kimbolton Flower Club 10am-12 noon Youth Hall, the Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Admission £5. Coffee Morning. Join us for coffee, cake and biscuits, and a chat. There will be a raffle too. All welcome.

15 January Buckden Gardeners Association 7.45pm Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden Buckden Gardeners Association is a group of people who meet on the third Tuesday of the month from October to April. Topics are varied, focusing on gardening but also include related subjects such as wild flowers, bees and birds. In the summer months we organise outings to gardens and related areas.

The speaker in January will be George Cottam who is Warden of Brampton Wood. George will explain how this ancient woodland is managed to encourage the flora and fauna that make this such a beautiful place.

Web: https://buckdengardeners.info 16 January Carers Coffee Club 2.30-4pm The Royal Oak, Hail Weston Are you caring for a loved one with a memory loss?

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. Tel: Neil Silby 07889 319888 Email: kimpigfarmer@tiscali.co.uk 17 January St Ives & District Flower Club 2.15pm Burgess Hall, St Ives Visitors £7

17 January St Neots Royal Naval Association 8pm 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. Tel: Tony Webley 01480 215218 Email: jj.awebley@btinternet.com

17 January 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 18 January St Neots Timebank Members & Friends Group 11am-1.30pm The Priory Centre, St Neots The more people that come the merrier it is. Enjoy a free cuppa with friendly people.

18 January The Bookshop (PG) Meal 6 for 6.30pm, Film 7 for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Film tickets Adults £4, 16 and under £2, over 60s £3 Kimbolton Community Cinema. England 1959. In a small East Anglian town, Florence Green decides against polite but ruthless opposition, to open a book shop, starring Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy.

Meal will be Beef Chilli with herb rice, Chocolate Tart with Crème Chantilly. Bar, ice cream, and free popcorn. Tickets available from Oliver’s, Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café or by email.

Email: jrstratford@hotmail.com Web: http://e-voice.org.uk/ themandevillehallkimbolton/community-cinema 18 January The Greatest Showman 7.30pm Offord Village Hall Tickets £5. Tickets available from Offord Village Stores or by telephone. All profits go to maintain Offord Village Hall. Tel: John 01480 810049 18 January Screen St Ives Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm The Corn Exchange, St Ives The Greatest Showman (Michael Gracey 2017 US 115mins) Cert PG A barn-storming musical that tells the story of PT Barnum, legendary innovator of modern show business, with his circus of curiosities and spectacle.

In his quest to bring high-brow entertainment to everyone he stakes everything on Jenny Lind, the ‘Swedish Nightingale’. Will they succeed?

Web: www.screenstives.org.uk 21 January 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

To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

24 January St Neots & District Gardening Club 8pm St Mary’s Church Hall, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 Drought Tolerant Plants talk by Barry Gayton.

Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk

25 January Campfire Cooking 10.30am-12pm & 1.30-3pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough £5 per child. Learn how to use basic bushcraft techniques to light a fire and have a go at cooking and eating some simple campfire recipes. For age 7+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Maximum of 3 children per adult. Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 25 January The Hinchingbrooke Bösendorfer Piano Concerts 7.30pm Hinchingbrooke Performing Arts Centre, Hinchingbrooke Park Road, Huntingdon Adults £15, Groups of 20+ £10 each, Students under 21 £5. Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen, piano duo. Katya and Charles have separately distinguished themselves as soloists and ensemble players of the very highest quality. Here they will join forces to create an unusual and exciting duo team on one piano. Programme including works by Schubert, Schumann and Brahms.

Tel: Box Office 01480 375678 (9am-3pm) Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/hinchingbrookepac 25-27 January Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates Fri 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm, Sun 2.20pm Stuart Memorial Hall, Tempsford Adults £11, Children £8, Family £32. This Pirates’ pantomime is a treat for all the family, packed full with swashbuckling action. Tel: 01767 691982 Web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/kingfisherplayers 27 January Moments with Trees - Family & Friends Volunteering 10am-12pm & 1-3pm Ferry Meadows, Peterborough Everybody welcome. All tools and training provided.

Tel: 01733 234193 Email: visitor.services@neneparktrust.org.uk 29 January Little Paxton Pictures 1.45pm St James’ Church A new community cinema project, kindly supported

by Little Paxton Parish Council. We are looking to run our Film afternoon/evening on the last Tuesday of every month. All donations are welcome.

Email: Anita Bailey ajlbailey@aol.com or Nicci Jones admin@thepaxtonsbenefice.org Web: www.thepaxtonsbenefice.org

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G.B.BUILDERS NO JOB TOO SMALL FOR ALL MAINTENANCE, RENOVATIONS AND DIY WORK All general building repairs and odd jobs Specialist in Painting and Decorating & Groundwork and Grass cutting • Brickwork & Plastering Tiling Driveways • Paths & Patios Slabbing • Concreting Blockpaving • Fencing, Carpentry • Roofing Guttering • Drainage Plumbing

Call today 07877742420 or 01480 437511 Email: g.bbuilders@yahoo.co.uk

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December’s Puzzle Solutions and Winners Last Month’s Crossword Winner Mr John Morley from Letchworth Christmas Competition Winner Sue Sandford from St Neots Easy

Hard

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41

The Villager Prize Crossword

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

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

Prize

£25

Across 1. Small town (7) 5. Hot chocolate (5) 8. Pant leg (7) 9. Estate, farm (5) 10. Defeated side (5) 11. Computer software (7) 12. Basement (6) 14. Removed skin (6) 17. Anglophone (7) 19. Vagrant (5) 22. Ran (5) 23. Changing (7) 24. Ease off, put feet up (5) 25. Snakes and ____, game (7) Down 1. Absolutely necessary (5) 2. Appears, seems (5) 3. Mozart’s home (7) 4. Our continent (6) 5. Ship’s freight (5) 6. Manage, direct (7) 7. Repentant (7) 12. More obvious (7) 13. Well reasoned (7) 15. Went into (7) 16. Large spade (6) 18. List of words at back of book (5) 20. Similar (5) 21. Sheets (5)

Name: Tel:



Address:

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0800 046 1080 UP TO 40% OFF IN JANUARY hello@thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk www.thehomeimprovementproject.co.uk To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122

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Removals, Delivery & Storage For All Your Storage, Delivery and Removal Requirements Use your local removal company

Based in Alconbury Weston Freephone - 0800 689 0894 Tony Webb - 07850 293540 Lee Eastlake - 07906 072096 www.move-plus-safe.co.uk

From just £35.00 per month plus VAT

Call Nigel on 01767 261122 for more information

• Wood Burning Stoves • Multi Fuel Stoves • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue Systems • Installation and Supply • Fireplace Renovations • Stove Accessories • Trade sales welcome

SHOWROOM NOW OPEN

Monday & Wednesday to Saturday – 10am – 5pm Other Days/Out of hours by prior arrangement

Unit 2 Home Farm Court, The Street, Diddington, St Neots, PE19 5XT

info@cromwellstoves.co.uk 01480 812281

www.cromwellstoves.co.uk 44

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Book Review By Kate Duggan Reasons to Stay Alive

By Matt Haig

An estimated 10% of people will suffer from depression at some point in their lives. If you’re waging your own battle against this debilitating illness, Reasons to Stay Alive may help. Matt Haig chronicles his own fight against depression and shares what worked for him. It’s an honest, warm, humorous and very relatable read. You may also find Haig’s Notes on a Nervous Planet of interest if you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks.

Slow

by Gizzi Erskine

Comfort eating doesn’t have to mean chocolate, shop-bought pies and a vat of ice cream. It can mean taking the time to show yourself some self-care by preparing delicious, wholesome, hearty dishes.

Slow has plenty of recipes to help you do just that, from warming winter stews to slow-roasted meats and decadent desserts. They’re all written in Gizzi’s usual easy, unaffected style. Salt Beef Brisket anyone? Or Lemon Sherbet Meringue Pie? Yum.

Why Mummy Drinks

by Gill Sims

Frazzled parents everywhere will find something to relate to in Why Mummy Drinks. Humorous reflections on parenting in the modern world precede spaces to jot down your own thoughts each day. If you like journals (and laughing), and have ever wondered whether you should just record yourself shouting ‘Teeth! Hair! Shoes! Hurry up!’ to save having to speak in the morning, this book is for you.

Books

How to be Famous

By Caitlin Moran

Snort-your-tea-out-of-your-nosefunny, How to be Famous centres around 19-year-old Johanna Morrigan aka the writer Dolly Wilde. It’s 1995, Britpop has taken over the music scene and there’s no better place to be than London. Until, that is, Johanna finds herself the subject of malicious gossip and has to decide whether to flee or fight back.

Down to Earth

by Monty Don

One of the easiest ways to lift your spirits is to get out into nature. There are few things more satisfying than growing something yourself and spring is just around the corner. Down to Earth is a useful book for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. It doesn’t matter whether you have acres of land or a tiny courtyard, you’ll find advice, tips and inspiration on everything from garden design and plant choice to pest control.

The Accidental Memoir

by Eve Makis and Anthony Chopper

If you’ve ever thought about capturing moments of your life using the written word but have no idea where to start, you need this book. Prompts range from ‘Is there a mystery in your family? A story rarely spoken about?’ to ‘What posters did you have on your bedroom wall?’ and ‘Write a letter to your younger self.’ There are also extracts from other memoirs, writing tips and more.

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