Alconbury Jan 2022

VILLAGER The

Issue 116 - Jan 2022

and Town

Life

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

Happy New Year Inside this issue Health and Well-being

Holidays

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in our Prize Crossword

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Inside this issue...

Seasonal Recipe: Ramen Tofu Noodle Bowl............... 32 A Fresh New Year....................................................... 34 Puzzle Page............................................................... 36 What’s on in January................................................. 39 Best Apps for Changing Careers................................. 39 How to be a Vegan.................................................... 40 Villager Prize Crossword............................................ 42 Book Review - Fresh Starts........................................ 45 Useful Numbers........................................................ 47

Using Neutral Colours

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Health and Well-being Holidays in the UK................... 4 Drinks: It’s a Gin Thing!................................................ 8 New Year, New Bathroom, Fresh Start!...................... 10 Choosing and Using Neutral Colours.......................... 12 Out of Business? Your Rights..................................... 18 Step a Million............................................................ 22 All the Colours of the Rainbow.................................. 26 RSPCA - Why not foster?............................................ 28 Used Car Bargains..................................................... 31

How to be a Vegan

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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 - Trevor Langley, Bathing Mobility Advisory Group, Katherine Sorrell, Caroline Knight, RSPCA and Kate Duggan

Advertising Sales/Local Editorial Nigel Frost • Tel: 01767 261122 nigel@villagermag.com Front Cover Photography - bobthebook Design and Artwork Design 9 • Tel: 07762 969460

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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Travel

Health and wellbeing holidays

in the UK

If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that there’s nothing more important than our health.

With the New Year’s resolution season now upon us, it’s the perfect time to set some goals that prioritise your body and mind – and what better way to start than with a holiday dedicated to just that?

Health and wellbeing holidays are the latest trend to hit the tourism market. In a world where our pace of life is getting faster and faster, there’s becoming a growing need for sanctuaries that allow us to slow down and take some time to focus on what’s important – our health.

Fortunately, you don’t need to travel far for these kinds of holidays either. The UK is packed with fitness, health and wellbeing escapes.

Arvon Creative Writing Retreats, West Yorkshire Calling all aspiring writers; Arvon’s Writing Retreats in the Pennine Hills give you the chance to shut out the noise, gather your thoughts and reignite your creativity. Regardless of your writing experience, you can enjoy a stellar line-up of published writers leading courses on everything from fiction, short stories and poetry to biography, life writing and screenwriting.

Keep it simple in a single room, or stretch out in your very own apartment – the choice is yours!

Reclaim Yourself, Scottish Highlands If sunrise yoga, delicious healthy meals, daily adventures and outstanding natural beauty all

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sound like chicken soup for the soul, you’ll love this wilderness and wellbeing weekend in the Scottish Cairngorms.

When you’re not relaxing in your rustic lodge, you’ll be freewheeling across the mountainscape, taking dips in Loch Garten and exploring the national park with a conservationist. And to top it off, Reclaim Yourself aims to offset the travel emissions of all their guests – making a holiday here good for you and the planet.

The Tree, North Yorkshire Nestled in the heart of the North York Moors National Park, The Tree is the perfect place to rest your mind, body and soul.

Stay for the weekend and you can expect tasty vegetarian meals (including Sunday lunch), afternoon tea, spa treatments and relaxation workshops, with plenty of time carved out to spend in the sauna and Jacuzzi too.

There’s also the option to choose the yoga weekend option, for a similar itinerary but with more downward facing dog.

Balance Holidays, Yorkshire Set in Broughton Hall in Yorkshire, a picturesque country estate framed by moorland, Balance Holidays’ holistic summer retreat is all about reconnecting with Mother Nature. Your days here will be filled with activities such as wild swimming, barefoot woodland walks, tree climbing, forest

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bathing and meditation workshops.

Of course, rest is important too, which is why you’ll have plenty of free time to soak up your tranquil surroundings. Book a stay here, and you’re guaranteed to leave feeling blissfully refreshed.

Our Retreat, Somerset This yoga and meditation retreat is hosted in a beautiful nineteenth-century farmhouse in the heart of Somerset’s idyllic countryside. A daily schedule at Our Retreat typically includes morning meditation, restorative yin yoga or Pilates, breath work, sound baths and guided walks.

Don’t worry, you’ll have flexibility to do what you want too, with plenty of time carved out for reading, massages or simply dozing off in the sun. Throw in some wholesome meals and you have a retreat that’s guaranteed to nourish your mind, body and soul.

Skyros, the Isle of Wight Hosted at The Grange, a Georgian B&B with sweeping sea views and a spacious garden, Skyros is famous for its two, three and four-night courses that help you become the person you truly want to be.

From writing, comedy and photography to yoga, dance and wellbeing, there are holidays for everyone – whatever you’re into and whether you’re travelling

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solo or with friends. The location is pretty idyllic too; set in the south of the Isle of Wight, a stone’s throw from the sea, there’s plenty to do, see and explore nearby.

Yeotown, Devon This rustic-meets-luxury haven near Barnstaple is best known for its health and fitness programme.

This is not your average fitness holiday; expect everything from long hikes along the North Devon coastline and bike rides in the forest to sunrise yoga and lessons on diet and nutrition. There’s also a hot tub and sauna to make the most of, not to mention healthy, vegan cuisine delicious enough to convert even the most hardened carnivore.

Birch, Hertfordshire Proof that you don’t always need to escape to the countryside to slow down, this country manor hotel on the outskirts of London provides a creative space to recharge or get involved in an array of classes.

Take part in classes ranging from gong baths to sourdough and soda breadmaking, glassblowing workshops and yoga. Oh, and did we mention the five-star facilities? Start your day in the gym, swim some lengths in the outdoor pool and dine on homegrown food, every day.

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Food & Drink

Drinks: It’s a Gin Thing!

Juniper berries form the base flavour for gins and productions of these alcoholic beverages dates back centuries.

Today, many different botanicals can be and are used, to great advantage, to produce gins that are a clear liquid through to a great number of coloured variations, which are appreciated and loved by numerous gin connoisseurs. Gin cocktails are hugely popular too and have devotees, globally. For some gin lovers a simple gin & tonic is satisfying and welcoming. I searched for a company producing a good range of handcrafted gins, that utilises botanicals to create outstanding gins, which appeal to many.

The Ruddy Fine Distillery is very proud of their productions, which have been developed over recent years, by Cheryl Stretton and Rory Thorpe. Their LONDON DRY GIN (42% ABV) is infused with 11 botanicals, all carefully selected to provide an excellent, balanced product. The sweetness of orange zest is complemented by fragrant spices and botanicals, to produce this smooth, extremely popular gin. Botanicals used for the production of this gin include the exotic lemongrass.

SUMMER BERRIES GIN (42% ABV) has, as the name suggests, juicy berries, evoking thoughts of summer in England. Red fruits are in abundance, for the bouquet. Again, excellent on the mouthfeel and palate’s sensation.

Cardamom combines with the other botanicals, to provide this ‘pink favourite’, that pink gin lovers fully enjoy.

Other Ruddy Fine gin productions include NAVY STRENGTH GIN, CHRISTMAS GIN (Limited Edition) and LOCKDOWN GIN (Limited Edition). Gift vouchers are available too, plus other merchandise to complement the range. The Ruddy Fine Distillery, created by Cheryl Stretton and Rory Thorpe, is located in the pretty, rural village of Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.

The Ruddy Fine Gin Club is very popular, with memberships steadily increasing. For a ‘something different’ type of gift the Ruddy Fine Minis Gift Boxes are very attractively presented and could be the answer. As Cheryl and Rory say, “Our passion and desire to create the finest small batch craft gins comes through in every refreshing sip”. For all details and information please contact or visit their website.

The Ruddy Fine Distillery Ltd, 39 Nottingham South & Wilford Industrial Estate, Ruddington Lane, Nottingham NG11 7EP. Tel: 07540 096 234 E-mail: info@ruddyfine.co.uk www.ruddyfine.co.uk ways, Enjoy!

As al

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ey Trevor Langl

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Business Review

New year, new bathroom Fresh start!

AFTER

Being able to enjoy a warm bath or a shower is something we take for granted but when mobility is impaired, people are often denied that simple pleasure.

When the bathroom in your home has served you well over the years, and is functioning perfectly, it seems an extravagance to replace it. But if getting in and out of the bath or shower is becoming increasingly challenging, that investment could be the key to living independently for longer, and to improving your health and wellbeing.

At the Bathing Mobility Advisory Service (BMAS) Hitchin, they know just what a positive impact having easy and safe access to a shower or bath can have.

BMAS manager Lee Brand, says the benefits of making your bathroom safe and comfortable are not just restricted to the physical ones, such as reducing the risk of slipping or tripping, but have wider health benefits bringing peace of mind and improved quality of life.

Regain your independence “You don’t have the anxiety of worrying about slipping or falling,” he says. “Having a bathroom that is safe and easy to use reduces the stress of trying to manage with facilities that are no longer fit for purpose.”

Being able to maintain the standards of personal hygiene you would want, at any age, makes a big difference to your confidence and self-esteem too, he says. Even though a new bathroom may seem an extravagance, it can mean someone has more years of independent living and brings peace of mind to the whole family.

Wet rooms are the ultimate accessibility solution, offering total level access, but BMAS also install

BEFORE

bathrooms with low level shower trays and walk in baths. Combined with specialist slip-resistant flooring, easy-clean hygienic wallboards, safety grab rails and fold down shower seating, your bathroom can become fully usable again.

A complete service for your convenience BMAS provides an end-to-end service, starting with the initial free consultation to providing a well thought-out, accessible bathroom design and a comprehensive quote. They supply all the products and carry out all the necessary works themselves, including removing the old bathroom and any building adaptations and electrical works.

Importantly, they manage the whole process for you, so you won’t have to arrange multiple tradespeople and payments and they will be there to answer your questions every step of the way. Works can be completed in as little as five days and your home will be kept clean and tidy throughout.

To find out more about their range of bathrooms visit the BMAS showroom at 67 Hermitage Road, Hitchin SG5 1DB or call 01462 889 097 or see bathingmobility.co.uk They offer a free design appointment service in your own home with absolutely no obligation or pressure selling.

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Interiors

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By Katherine Sorrell

Choosing and using neutral colours For a look that is classically stylish, easy to live with and works in every room, choose a subtle palette of whites, greys and browns.

In a room decorated with neutrals, you will always feel at home. With an almost infinite range of colours, from the purest white to pale, mid and deep tones of grey, beige and brown, they work well for both old and new houses, and for small or large spaces. Think of the glow of polished wood, the texture of rattan, the variations of natural pebbles – these luscious shades, chosen and combined with care, can be full of character.

First, the basics. Pale can definitely be interesting: shades of not-quite-white offer a surprising range of options, from fresh, bright and airy to rich, warm and restful. Rooms painted in pure white can appear bigger and brighter, thanks to the way the colour reflects light around. A clean white wall is a great background for vibrant paintings, for the coloured spines of books, or for a simple jug of flowers. And if brilliant white is too cold, choose a white with a pink or yellow undertone that warms the space and

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is more flattering against the skin.

Beyond white, pale neutrals vary in hue from cream to sand, through taupe to stone and bleachedtimber tones, while darker neutrals vary from charcoal and ebony to chocolate – and there is a whole rainbow in between to choose from, including beautiful greys, from palest dove to darkest steel.

Many people love the laid-back, fresh feel of a room that puts white on white, or combines a range of very pale tones, but with neutrals it is also possible to employ counterpoints of darker tones against lighter colours, or even to go dark and dramatic all over.

Choose colours by trying them out in situ, using small tester pots before committing to a bigger purchase. Paint at least two coats on several pieces of card, and stick them up on every wall around the room in question. Observe the colours at the times you’ll usually be in the room, and with your lights

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Foster For Us

Please call

0800 052 0078

• Bespoke training and development • Receive generous pa y and benefits • Access to 24/7 support and training • Your own supervising social worker

Text FOSTERING to 60777

• Support group and networking opportunities You need to be over 21, have a spare bedroom, be compassionate, resilient, flexible and willing to learn.

www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/fostering fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

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both on and off, as lighting has a marked effect on neutrals.

The trick is to select layers of colour rather than just one, creating an interesting, subtly varied effect.

When combining neutrals, avoid using different hues that are all of the same tone. An easy way to choose is to take a colour chart and go up or down (dark to light) within the same colour family, rather than working across from colour to colour. You could use darker tones for woodwork, with lighter ones for walls or, if you have features such as cornices and dadoes, perhaps vary the wall tones with lighter ones above and darker ones below the divisions. You can also use different neutrals to provide a gentle visual link from room to room: perhaps a very pale colour in a narrow hallway, with slightly darker hues in a living room and a warm tone in a dining room, for example.

With paint colours sorted, continue the layering effect with flooring, wallcoverings, furnishings and accessories. In any neutral scheme, it is surfaces that are the star, and success comes from choosing textures – hard and soft, rough and smooth, squishy and knobbly – as carefully as you would colours.

Natural is key, so aim for simple upholstery, window treatments, bed linen and table linens, in fabrics that have subtle and attractive variations in texture – crisp linen, soft cotton, warm wool, floaty muslin, fluffy sheepskin, and so on. Bring out the cosiness of a small bedroom, for example, with a shaggy rug, matt-painted walls, velvet curtains and soft woollen

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throws. Or emphasise a light and airy living room with satin-varnished floorboards, glossy woodwork, sheer curtains and silk cushions.

While there is inherent pattern in many of these textures (the weave of a rug or a wicker basket, for example) you may wish to introduce some surface pattern, too. In rooms that are, on the whole, relatively plain, small pattern features will stand out as focal points. Checks and stripes, chevrons and zigzags, damasks and geometrics can all look particularly good. Similarly, the occasional spot of colour, whether it’s a pale pink cushion, a turquoise vase or a mustard-coloured lampshade, may be the perfect finishing touch for an all-neutral room, adding just a touch of drama and personality to the calm and welcoming vibe.

1 Handmade in the UK, this love seat is composed of Scandinavian birch, with feather-wrapped foam cushions for squishy comfort. Banoffee love seat, £1,445, Loaf: 020 3141 8300; loaf.com.

2 Inspired by classic wingback chairs, these stately beds have ample storage space concealed beneath.

Kenley ottoman storage bed in oatmeal fabric, £699.99 (double), Furniture & Choice: 0333 015 0000; furniturechoice.co.uk.

3 This table teams two planks of tactile and sustainably sourced white oiled oak with black metal legs.

Industrial oak table, £975; Edie dining chairs, £525 (pair); all Nordic House: 01872 223 220; nordichouse.co.uk.

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Finance

Out of Business? Your Rights When a retailer or service provider goes out of business, you may be worried about whether you’ll lose out if you’ve paid for goods or services you haven’t yet received, or you want a refund for faulty products. Let’s run through your legal rights.

Administration or Liquidation? If the business is in administration then it’s still ‘in business’, even if it isn’t actively trading. There’ll be an attempt to rescue it, for example by selling it to a new owner. While this happens, your legal rights are still technically valid. This means it’s still worth asking for a refund or return as it’s possible (if unlikely) that you’ll get what you ask for.

If the company has gone into liquidation, it’s definitely not coming back. You’ll need to find the appointed administrator and write to formally register your claim. In most cases you’ll only get a small proportion of what you’re owed (or nothing at all) as some creditors take priority, for example HMRC chasing uncollected taxes. However, it’s still worth lodging the claim just in case.

Card Cover - Another option is to make a claim through your card provider. If you paid some or all of the cost on a credit card and the total cost was at least £100, you have a legal right to get any relevant refunds from your card provider under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. If you paid using a debit card, you can often make a similar claim under a voluntary industry scheme called chargeback.

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Holiday Cover - Many tour operators are part of the government’s ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence) scheme, run by the Civil Aviation Authority. If you book through an ATOL member and they go out of business, you should get a refund. If you are already abroad when the business fails, the scheme should settle any outstanding hotel bills and cover your flight home. Note that ATOL is designed for package holidays that include a flight. If you only booked accommodation, you’ll need to check if you booked through a member of ABTA (formerly the Association of British Travel Agents). If so, and the company fails, you should get similar benefits to the ATOL scheme.

Utility Cover - Another industry with protection is gas and electricity. As many customers have experienced in recent months, when a utility supplier stops trading, regulator Ofgem guarantees supplies are uninterrupted. It will source another supplier to take on the customers, though this will be at a ‘deemed’ rate that will often be more than your tariff with the old supplier.

Ofgem advises customers not to initiate a switch until they are set up with the new supplier, at which point they can switch elsewhere with no exit fees.

Customers who were in credit and owed money by the old supplier will get it back from the new supplier, though this may take some time. Customers who were in debit to the old supplier will normally need to pay back the money to the new supplier.

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Local News

Step out in the new year and make a difference!

Step a Million is simple…. you have 100 days to walk one million steps! This January, put your best foot forward in solidarity with Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and ‘Step a Million’ for your local hospice!

You have 100 days to walk one million steps, between 10 January and 19 April.

As we enter the new year, this is the perfect way to get 2022 off on the right foot (or the left one!) whilst raising vital funds and awareness for Arthur

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Rank Hospice Charity’s frontline services.

In order to reach one million steps by 19 April, you need to accumulate an average of 10,000 steps every day. You could also encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to get involved and keep each other motivated along the way. You could even go head-to-head to see who can reach one million steps first!

Walking 10,000 steps a day can result in you feeling more energetic and awake, look after your blood pressure and heart health, sleep better and reduce stress levels. What’s more, what better motivation can there be for getting out on those (hopefully) crisp fresh mornings, than knowing that your efforts will make a real difference to people when it really matters?

Registration is just £12 per person and includes dedicated support from a member of our fundraising team. You can sign up to take part at arhc.org.uk/stepamillion

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Gardening

Caroline Knight: Gardendesignideas.co.uk

All the colours of the rainbow Joy in the winter garden - The start of a new year is the perfect time to review your patch of outdoor space to ensure it fills you with joy – even in January.

You need either strong structural design that looks stunning at any time of year, or a wonderful array of rainbow shades, punctuated by architectural forms.

But how can you achieve this?

Planting a rainbow - Aim to provide something that fits into the chart of the seven visible spectrum colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Almost certainly, you will already have some green, but there are many different shades. The secret is to have one shade of green set off against another – dark and light is the classic combination.

You can play with greens all year round, but January is the month they can really bring the show alive.

Reds for the winter garden - Think about stems and bark as well as flowers, foliage and berries, and there is a feast of red opportunity. The fiery stems of Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ or Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ will set the border ablaze, particularly if you prune down your cornus in late winter or very early spring so that the new growth is pleasingly vertical.

The rich mahogany bark of Prunus serrula, or Tibetan cherry, can look stunning against a backdrop of dark green hedging or the brown leaves of winter beech.

Lower to the ground you might consider heuchera such as H. ‘Forever Red’ or H. ‘Paprika’. Then we have rhododendrons, some of which can be adorned with a blousy show of scarlet this month. Don’t forget red-flowering evergreen camellias too – their winter flowers stand out against the dark green foliage.

Create orange and yellow sunshine in the garden With ornamental grasses in borders or pots, January will glow. Clumps of tall miscanthus with its warm,

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yellow-orange stems and seed heads will look dignified in January, providing structure and colour.

Choose an orange-stemmed cornus for vertical accent and dot these plants around in repeated forms to bring the picture together. Plant Eranthis hyemalis, the winter aconite, under deciduous shrubs to create a spreading, golden carpet and consider Mahonia ‘Winter Sun’, a magnificent structural shrub with yellow, scented winter flowers to transform a shady corner.

Beat the winter blues with garden blue, indigo and violet - Blue fescue is an evergreen grass that can create winter blues and there are plenty of conifers and shrubs with steely-blue foliage to provide structure and colour, including Juniperus ‘Blue Star’ and Pittosporum ‘Wrinkled Blue’. Eucalyptus gunnii, with its strikingly blue juvenile leaves, can be tamed by clipping for winter beauty. For an indigo or violet hue, consider the conifer Cryptomeria japonica, which turns a pleasing shade of purple in winter.

Evergreen heucheras can provide low mounds of purple foliage to line paths and provide a safe haven for wildlife.

Your winter garden is likely to be viewed through glass for much of this month, so help it to come alive with colour!

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Pets

Why Not Foster?

Have you ever considered becoming a foster carer?

Caring for a pet is very rewarding, but for some families it is not always possible. Quite often when you are renting or between homes, having a pet in not an option. For many, cost is the reason they have not got a pet. Recently the cost of kittens, cats, puppies and dogs seems to have grown and grown. So being a foster carer may be a better and cheaper option.

Being a foster carer is extremely rewarding. The RSPCA are always on the look out for new volunteer foster carers who can provide a safe, calm and loving environment for the cats and dogs our inspectors rescue each year. Fostering an animal can help them recover from neglect, abuse, illness or injury - taking the first steps towards finding a new, loving forever home.

Why do we need foster carers at the RSPCA? The volunteer role of a foster carer is both a crucial and a rewarding one, giving people the opportunity to make a huge difference to animal welfare. Our foster carers aim to help rehabilitate animals which then increases their chances of finding a forever home.

Naturally, we try to rehome our animals as quickly as possible, but if they are involved in a prosecution case we could have them in our care for long periods.

Some animals need one-to-one care or perhaps don’t cope well in an animal centre environment. This is where our team of fantastic foster carers comes in.

When an animal is fostered space in our centres then become free, so that we can rescue more animals in desperate need.

What does the role involve?

There are two types of fostering roles at the RSPCA: 1) Foster carers for animals ready to be rehomed.

2) Foster carers for case animals whilst the legal proceedings take place.

All carers are responsible for the welfare of the animal in their care and are a crucial part in the rehabilitation of the animal. You would be required to provide the care the animal needs; feeding, exercising, cleaning, socialising, giving medication and grooming. Many animals that we take in have either suffered or are not used to the care and affection that they deserved.

Living with a foster family helps to provide them with one-to-one care, allowing them to build up their confidence and get used to a normal lifestyle.

You may even be asked to foster an animal that is convalescing following illness or injury while they prepare for the adoption process.

Providing stable futures Did you know that you could also foster a horse or a pony? You can foster a horse or a pony as a companion for your own horse. Or if you don’t currently own one and you are able, you can foster two horses as company for each other. If you fit the criteria for an equine foster carer why not find out more and apply online.

How can I get involved?

If you are interested in the role of an animal fosterer, use our volunteer search on our national website to find opportunities near you.

If there is nothing listed in your area, then it’s always worth checking with your nearest RSPCA branch or animal centre.

The RSPCA is always delighted to hear about people’s positive fostering experiences. Get in touch if you have a story you’d like to share.

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

Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7.

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

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Motoring

Used car bargains: the models that are escaping the big price rises In recent months, with new car production badly affected by a shortage of components, buyers are flocking to used cars like never before, with a knock-on effect on the prices of those cars. Recent data from automotive analysts Cap HPI showed that values rose by 20.3 per cent in a five month period, with some cars jumping in value by nearly 50 per cent in that time.

However, there is still a range of models offering value for money, so here are the used car bargains still available.

Vauxhall Astra With the huge choice of available models, the Astra’s popularity helps to guarantee a great deal on a used example. While a new Astra might cost you £20,000, nearly-new versions can save you well in excess of £5,000 – we spotted a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles on the clock for just £13,495. The Astra is good to drive, looks good and has a practical interior ideal for families.

BMW X3 M Competition The X3 M Competition, with its 503bhp twin turbo 3.0-litre engine, is BMW’s entry-level M model in it’s sporty SUV line-up, and a new model costs £83,00 (before any optional extras). However, we

found a 2020 car with just 5,000 miles on the clock for £60,000, a vast saving off the original list price.

Mercedes SL The launch of Mercedes’ new ‘SL’ convertible flagship means its recently axed predecessor is worth your attention. This glamorous drop-top is still classy, with a punchy engine that would prove effortless on long-distance trips.

Today, you could expect to find a one-year-old example with just a few thousand miles on the clock for around £65,000, a generous saving off the original asking price of over £80,000.

Audi e-tron Due to the increased popularity

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of electric cars, it often means bargains are quite rare. One exception to that rule is the Audi e-tron, the brand’s flagship SUV, despite its high-quality, tech-laden interior and comfortable drive.

This makes it a terrific used buy, especially as a 2020 car with under 10,000 miles can be had for £45,000 – a huge £15,000 saving on a brandnew model. Just be aware that this applies to the ‘50’ model with the smaller battery option, which only has an electric range of around 200 miles.

Volkswagen Arteon Sometimes the best trick to finding a used car bargain is to choose a car that flies under the radar, such as the Volkswagen Arteon. It’s the brand’s most ‘executive’ model, yet despite its striking design is often cast aside by buyers who favour a more premium badge.

They’re therefore missing out on its refined driving experience, upmarket interior and efficient engines. However, you can use this to your benefit, as a 2020 car in high-spec R-Line trim with low miles is available from around £26,000 – almost £13,000 less than the list price of a new example.

So, while used car values might be rising at a silly rate, bargains can most certainly still be had.

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Seasonal Recipe

This is such a light, refreshing soup and low-carb too, thanks to the addition of vegetable noodles. You could also use kelp noodles or regular noodles instead.

Ramen Tofu Noodle Bowl Ingredients 1 medium courgette (or use 150g kelp noodles or cooked regular noodles) 1½ tbsp olive oil 450g firm tofu, drained and cut into 2cm cubes 2 spring onions, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 600ml vegetable stock 2 pak choi, roughly chopped 150g shiitake mushrooms, sliced 1 tbsp white miso paste 2 tbsp tamari soy sauce Handful of beansprouts To serve 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 1. Use a spiraliser to make long noodles from the courgette; alternatively use a swivel potato peeler to create long strips. Set aside. If using kelp or

Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 14 minutes Serves 4

regular noodles prepare according to instructions and drain well.

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan and add the tofu. Sauté for 5 minutes over a medium-high heat until the tofu is lightly golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Heat the remaining oil in a pan and sauté the spring onion and garlic for 1–2 minutes over a medium heat.

Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to the boil.

Add the pak choi and mushrooms and simmer for 5 minutes until the pak choi has wilted. Stir in the miso paste, tamari soy sauce, beansprouts, tofu and courgette (or other) noodles and stir briefly. Turn off the heat and allow the soup to sit for 1–2 minutes to allow the noodles to soften.

4. Ladle the soup into bowls and scatter over the sesame seeds and coriander to serve.

Nutrition per serving: 176kcal, fat 10.6g (of which saturates 3g), carbohydrates 5.4g (of which sugars 3.7g), protein 14.5g

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Home Products By Katherine Sorrell

A Fresh New Year

Good-looking storage makes organisation more enjoyable.

Matt black steel and bamboo caddy, £10; all-purpose hob cleaner, £3; bamboo and plastic scrubbing brush, £2; bamboo round dish brush, £2; all Dunelm.

January is a great time to catch up on all those household chores and get going with an early ‘spring’ clean. Make it more enjoyable and planet-friendly by choosing good-looking tools and eco-conscious supplies.

Make light work of dusting without the need for toxic chemicals. Living Nostalgia genuine natural ostrich feather duster, Kitchen Craft.

This coconut fibre scourer has a bamboo handle, both of which are plant-based and biodegradable; the stainless-steel wire is easily recyclable. Bambaw reusable bamboo dish brush, £6, Beaumonde.

This lemon-scented washingup soap bar is 100% natural, biodegradable, plastic-free and contains no palm oil. Dish-washing soap bar in lemon, £7.99, Suusco.

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Make light work of house cleaning

The sustainable way to clean dirty dishes. Simply compost when finished with them. Natural latex rubber gloves, £3, Zero Zen Store.

Generously sized and made from pure cotton, this gingham apron features a pair of handy patch pockets.

Auberge apron in Wedgwood blue, £16.99, Walton & Co.

This eco-friendly cleaner works on a range of high-gloss surfaces, and comes in a reusable aluminium bottle along with a microfibre cloth. Glass cleaner starter pack, £6.99, Wearth London.

Take the effort out of everyday cleaning. Longhandle dustpan and brush, £25, Garden Trading.

These heavy-knitted cloths can be used, washed, and used again. Bleached stockinette dishcloth, £1.79, Walton & Co.

STOCKISTS Beaumonde: 01202 707 770; beaumonde.co.uk Garden Trading: 01993 845 559; gardentrading.co.uk Suusco: suusco.com Wearth London: wearthlondon.com

• If you can’t bear the thought of tackling all the cleaning at once, divide it into manageable tasks, and devote perhaps an hour a week – or else tackle one room at a time, maybe over a weekend.

• Be prepared. Have a thorough clear-out and tidy, change into old clothes and rubber gloves, and gather the necessary equipment and products. This is where a sturdy caddy, a tool belt, or an apron with plenty of large pockets becomes invaluable – keeping everything with you as you go will save lots of time.

• As you work, try to be organised, whether it’s one room at a time or one task at a time. The chores will generally divide into five main areas: vacuuming, dusting, mopping/ scrubbing, washing and wiping, and polishing, so bear this in mind when planning, so as not to miss anything out.

• Don’t forget specific tasks such as turning mattresses, spotcleaning upholstery, deepcleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer, descaling the shower head and steam cleaning carpets.

• Work from the top of a room to the bottom (in other words, dust the pendant light before polishing the table beneath it).

Prioritise the hardest-to-clean item in the room to do early on – then the rest of the room will be a breeze.

Dunelm: 0845 165 6565; dunelm.com Kitchen Craft: 0121 604 6000; kitchencraft.co.uk Walton & Co: 01423 326 332; waltonshop.co.uk Zero Zen Store: 01737 550 844; zerozen.co.uk

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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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Healeys Stoves Ltd QUALIFIED AND REGISTERED HETAS INSTALLER FULLY CERTIFIED AND INSURANCE APPROVED A RELIABLE, QUALITY SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Excellence and Professionalism are first when it comes to installing your new wood burner.

With over 13 years experience, covering all areas in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire.

• Gas Boiler Installation, Servicing and Repairs • Landlord Gas Safety Certificates • Central Heating System Installation and Upgrades • Radiator Flushing • All General Plumbing

• Wood Burner Installations • Chimney Lining • Twin Wall Flue systems • Prefabricated Chimneys • Fireplace Renovations and Restorations

Based in St. Neots Covering All Surrounding Areas

FREE QUOTES ALL WORK GUARANTEED FULLY INSURED

Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote to discuss your ideas.

Healeys Stoves Ltd www.healeysstovesltd.co.uk (M) 07596 996039 (T) 01480 510161

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Tel: 07502 253276 Web: www.meltonheating.co.uk Email: info.meltonheating@gmail.com meltonplumbingandheating

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What's On

WHAT'S ON IN JANUARY 4, 11, 18 & 25 JANUARY St Neots & District Camera Club Via Zoom Regular talks and competitions. www.stneots-camera-club.org.uk 4 & 18 JANUARY Volunteer Work Party 10.30am-1pm. Wandlebury Country Park, Gog Magog Hills, Cambridge Care for green spaces and their wildlife - get active and meet others.

All instruction, equipment and tools provided. Wear tough clothes and footwear and bring packed lunch. www.cambridgeppf.org 5, 12, 19 & 26 JANUARY St Neots Choral Society 7.30-9.30pm. Eynesbury Junior School, Montagu Street, Eynesbury New members. Rehearsals are every Wednesday in term time.

Tel: 01480 212298 for enquiries Web: www.stneotschoral.org.uk 7 JANUARY St Neots Local History Society 7.30pm Eynesbury Primary School SNLHS members free, visitors £4 ‘The Golden Age of Fen Skating’ by Guy Hussey of the Norris Museum.

From the Dutch origins of ice skating, to the earliest account of skating on the fens in the late 18th Century to the height of the golden age of fen skating in the late 19th Century.

Web: http://stneotslhs.org.uk

8 JANUARY Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire Hardy Plant Society 2pm. Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade Talk by Kerry Barehead on Roses dos and don'ts. Visitors welcome – small charge. www.hpscambsandbeds.co.uk 8 JANUARY Huntingdon Comedy Club 7pm. Tickets £15 + booking fee Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon With Fin Taylor (Live at the Apollo), Troy Hawke (“undeniably funny” Chortle), Alice Fraser ( The Herald Sun) and Aurie Styla (Jonathan Ross' Comedy Club). www.chuckl.co.uk/huntingdon-january 18 JANUARY Winter Trees 10am-12 noon. Wandlebury Country Park, Gog Magog Hills, Cambridge £18 per family Cambridge Past, Present & Future event. Gentle guided walk to learn how to identify tree species in winter.

Web: www.cambridgeppf.org 18 JANUARY 10am-12 noon Dementia Café St Ives Free Church, St Ives £2.50 per person. For people with dementia and their carers.

Tel: George Smerdon 07725 588145 Web: facebook/ stivesdementiafriendlycommunity

21 JANUARY Kimbolton Community Cinema 7pm for 7.30pm Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton Tickets £5, concessions £4 The Courier (12A). Bar, ice cream and free popcorn. Tickets from The Flower Shop , The Old Swan Pharmacy, Bytes Café or on the door.

22 JANUARY Bedford RSPB Local Group Meeting 7.30-9.30pm ARA Club, Manton Lane, Bedford Members £1, guests £2, under 18 free ‘Jewels in the Air’ by Wilf Powell which describes aspects of the biology and behaviour of hummingbirds.

COVID restrictions may apply. RSPB membership not essential. Annual membership £5.

Web: rspb.org.uk/groups/bedford 27 JANUARY St Neots & District Gardening Club Meetings 7.30pm. St Mary's Church Hall, Brook Street, St Neots Members £2, Non-members £2.50 A talk on Cacti and Succulents by Barry Clayton. Visitors welcome.

Web: www.stneotsgardenclub.org.uk UNTIL 29 JANUARY Aladdin Cambridge Arts Theatre Suitable for ages 1-101! Tel: 01223 503333 Web: www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

The Best Apps for Changing Careers The Dots Designed for “people who don’t wear suits”, The Dots is a jobhunting app and social network for creative types and freelancers.

In addition to finding vacancies you can learn via virtual seminars and find project collaborators too.

Reed Reed is where some of the UK’s biggest employers advertise their vacancies, and there are over 5,000 new jobs added every day.

It’s rather like a dating app in that it will only show you jobs that fit your app profile and location criteria, ensuring you only see relevant jobs.

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

edX Want to learn a new discipline? There are apps for that, including Khan Academy and the web-based Futurelearn and OpenLearn. This app comes from the prestigious Harvard and MIT and other top universities, and it offers free courses in everything from coding to construction and mathematics.

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Special Report

How to be a Vegan (or Vegetarian) The headlines about meat-eating emphasise that rearing animals for food is a major contributor to climate change, but you don’t have to look far to understand that animal welfare and personal health are also significant motivators for the increased adoption of more plant-based diets.

It was recently reported that, over the last decade, the UK’s meat consumption dropped by 17%. That’s a great start, but although we know why we should consider this new way of eating, the how seems to have less attention, so let’s look at some simple changes that we can all adopt.

Cooking from scratch The easiest option is to eat pretty much as you always did, but to use meat-free alternatives. Mince, burgers, sausages, fish and chicken all have vegan substitutes available and in some cases it’s really quite difficult to spot the difference.

Oat milk is the winner for its sustainability credentials, with almond milk now generally frowned upon. Butter substitutes have been around for years; vegan cheese is available but is a bit of an acquired taste. Replacements for eggs depends on the recipe, so you’ll have to do your research.

If this way of eating is going to stick, you’ll want to try some new recipes. Most recipes have considerably more ingredients that meat-based meals do, including herbs and spices. If you love cooking and have lots of jars of flavourings in your cupboards you won’t mind this. Otherwise, you might want to consider a ready-to-cook option.

For this, look at the booming market of recipe boxes. British company Gousto offer around 60

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recipes each week, with 20% vegan and a further 30% vegetarian (meaning over half the meals don’t contain meat). Around 80% of HelloFresh meals contain meat so they are not a great choice, but you could try their sister brand GreenChef and another popular provider, Mindful Chef.

Ready-to-eat Supermarkets have a selection of plant-based ready meals and frozen meal deliveries are available from a number of companies, including Planty and Allplants.

Take-away food is a bit more challenging. It is possible though and the online menus should offer a clear indication of which of their options are vegetarian and vegan.

Eating out Choose a restaurant or pub that offers many of the same options as usual but in a veggie version, and some recipes that are specifically targeted for nonmeat eaters. Even better is a specific vegan menu, and Wagamama deserve recognition for having introduced this at the start of 2021.

Happy Cow (happycow.net or download the app) is a useful resource with social feedback on many eateries, or your local Facebook group will have lots of people giving you recommendations (or ‘avoids’).

Be realistic Like any new regime, a wholesale overnight change will be challenging and will often lead to failure. But even if you could just do one no-animal-products day each week, you will have cut your meat intake by 14% and in time you’ll realise that you often prefer the veggie or vegan option.

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Crossword Puzzle Solution from our December Edition Last Month’s Crossword Winner - Lindsey Smith, Abbotsley

December’s Codeword and Sudoku Solutions

Easy

Hard

Advertising in The Villager is easy.

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The Villager Prize Crossword Prize

£25

Across 1 King’s title (7) 5 Herb (5) 8 Sprays water (9) 9 Curved line (3) 10 Sword (5) 12 Remote military camp (7) 13 Incendiary guns (13) 15 Highest noble rank (7) 17 Tests (5) 19 Concerned with the environment (3) 20 Raised area (9) 22 Give up (5) 23 Wandered (7)

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

16th January 2022 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 Disguises (5) 2 Glass container (3) 3 Genuine, honest (7) 4 Colourful small birds (13) 5 Hat (5) 6 E.g. EastEnders (4,5) 7 Finds (7) 11 Region in space (5,4) 13 Nervous (7) 14 Outside (4-3) 16 Fear (5) 18 Church council (5) 21 Climbing plant (3)

Name:

Address:

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

Tel:

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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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Fresh starts Give your New Year’s resolutions a helping hand…

Running Made Easy Lisa Jackson and Susie Whalley

Whether you’ve got your mind set on running a marathon this year, or you just want to complete Couch to 5K, this book could prove as invaluable as the right pair of trainers. Within its pages, you’ll find plenty of tips, running plans and advice, mainly aimed at beginner runners. Perhaps most importantly, however, you’ll also find lots of motivational real-life stories of people who’ve used running to dramatically improve their lives.

The Book of Hopes Edited by Katherine Rundell

This book brings together poems, short stories, essays and illustrations – all designed to ‘comfort, inspire and entertain’.

It’s perfect for dipping into on a coffee break or when you’re in need of a moment of solace. While it’s aimed at children, there’s no reason why The Book of Hopes can’t be enjoyed just as much by adults. A beautiful book to give or receive.

Everyday Cook Donal Skehan

Is your New Year’s resolution to cook more meals from scratch?

Most of the recipes in Everyday Cook are designed to take you from fridge to table within half an hour. (Some dishes can be whipped up in just fifteen minutes.) There are also meals to freeze for days when you really don’t have the energy to cook. The recipes might be simple, but they’re far from boring. Think Cheat’s Spring Risotto, Kung Pao Chicken and Aubergine, and Spicy Prawn Aglio e Olio.

Books

By Kate Duggan

The Wildlife Gardener Kate Bradbury

British wildlife has declined dramatically over the last few decades. Once common species, such as the hedgehog, are under threat. If you want to play a role in helping to reverse the decline, this book is a good starting point. It’s packed with practical tips on encouraging all manner of wildlife into your garden. You’ll find step-by-step projects, ideas for plants and plenty of gorgeous photography. And you’ll also be taught how to identify some of your new garden visitors.

Farrow & Ball Recipes for Decorating Joa Studholme

Planning to refresh your home in 2022? Before you go anywhere near a paintbrush, get some advice and inspiration from the experts. Farrow & Ball’s no-nonsense guide covers everything from creating different moods using colour, to tackling common problems such as dark rooms and small spaces.

There are several case studies and tons of photos.

Whether you’re craving an ultra-modern living room or want to bring some country-cottage comfort to your kitchen, this book is for you.

The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide Jen Gale

Going green can feel pretty daunting, but this book sets out small steps we can all take to help combat climate change, reduce plastic and cut waste. It’s about making more conscious, informed choices – from small swaps that you’ll barely notice to more impactful life changes. There are no lectures, no guilt trips and no preaching – just relatable, easy-toread advice and ideas.

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FOR ALL YOUR GLAZING NEEDS: • SINGLE & DOUBLE GLAZING • SEALED UNITS GONE ‘FOGGY’ • MIRRORS • SHELVES • WINDOWS & DOORS • LOCKS, WINDOW & DOOR ACCESSORIES

se youU r local glazier

01480 896678

www.brookviewglaziers.com email: info@brookviewglaziers.com

CALL FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION QUOTE

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